Jaime Xie is a fashion entrepreneur, socialite, and philanthropist from Silicon Valley, California. She is the eldest child of Ken Xie, founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based cybersecurity company, Fortinet. He was also a collaborator, early investor, and consultant to Zoom founder and CEO, Eric Yuan. Growing up, Jaime was a competitive equestrian and ranked #1 in the United States in 2014 with her horse, Comissario, winning the USEF Horse of the Year Award that same year. After travelling the world competing on the global equestrian circuit, Jaime decided to forge a career in fashion. She enjoys spending her free time riding horses at her family’s estate in California and volunteering for various charities. Philanthropy is very important to the Xie family and they continuously support charities through the Xie Foundation
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Silicon Valley, California. It is a great area for tech companies and startups, but there isn’t much for fashion. So, I always dreamed of traveling the world and living in places where fashion is more prominent and part of a lifestyle.
Where you have lived and where do you live now?
I’ve lived in the Bay Area for most of my life, but began splitting my time between Los Angeles and Northern California since 2016. Soon, I will be splitting my time between Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, and London as my European base.
How did the idea of Bling Empire come around? Could you tell us a little bit more about it?
A friend of mine is close friends with the producer of the show and knew they were looking for additional cast members. He thought I would be a good fit and set up a meeting for me to meet with the producer. I ended up joining the cast just weeks before filming began. The show has been in development for a few years and the producers seem to be inspired by the movie Crazy Rich Asians.
How would you describe a “day in the life of Jaime Xie”?
Every day is different, especially when I’m traveling. When I am home, I wake up around 8am and start my day with a workout. After the workout, I answer emails and try to get most of my work done from my computer. I’m vegan and practice intermittent fasting so I usually have lunch around 1pm and dinner at 6pm. I schedule most of my zoom meetings in the afternoon and run errands before dinner. If I have free time, I love to bake vegan sweets and catch up with friends. Dark chocolate is my absolute favorite so I always make sure to end my day with at least one bar and a few truffles before going to bed.
What are your three favourite fashion brands?
It is very hard for me to pick only three but in terms of established brands, my top three at the moment are Prada, Versace, and Mugler. Of course, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Bottega Veneta are also my favorites. But what I love most is discovering and supporting newer, emerging designers and watching them grow. I’m obsessed with brands such as Nensi Dojaka, Charlotte Knowles, Marine Serre, Ottolinger and Kwaidan Editions because they truly allow me to showcase my personal style and ignite my love for fashion even more. I also really love to wear and collect cool vintage pieces. I’m always keeping an eye out for vintage Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton and like finding things I know not everyone has.
Describe your wardrobe. What is your daily uniform?
My wardrobe consists mainly of statement and runway pieces because I see fashion as art and love to collect these items and wear them for special occasions. On a day-to-day basis, my style is pretty laid back and you’ll most likely find me in a sweater and jeans during the winter and a crop top and shorts in the summer.
Travelling has sadly come to a halt due to the global pandemic – where will be the first place you would like to holiday once the travel ban has been lifted?
I would love to visit Croatia one day and Kenya is also on my bucket list. I grew up riding horses and have always had a deep love for animals so I would love to see them in nature surrounded by their natural environment.
What personal and professional goals have you set for 2021?
My parents have both found success in business and investing and I want to combine their strengths with my own, but more in the fashion industry rather than the tech industry. I also plan on channeling my creative energy into designing my own sunglass line that you will hopefully see a glimpse of in 2021.
You have followed your own dreams separate to your family – why was it important to you to create your own identity professionally?
This has always been important to me because I wanted to do something I love, instead of doing something to please others. I didn’t feel passionate about what my father does or any of the traditional career paths Asian children often pursue such as medicine or law. My passion has always been fashion, which my parents recognized from an early age. They were supportive because at the end of the day, they want me to be happy pursuing a career I truly love. For this, I will be forever grateful because I know that not everyone is fortunate enough to have this kind of relationship, support, and freedom with their family. I never wanted to use the crutch of my family name and I am willing to work hard and make a name for myself.
What important lessons have your learnt from your family and growing up surrounded by the family business?
My parents raised me and my brothers to be humble and well-rounded individuals. The most important thing is to be kind to everyone you cross paths with, regardless of status. My mother and father also grew up with the notion that success equates to hard work and instilled this drive in us from a young age. If we wanted something when we were growing up, we were expected to work for it and earn it rather than just being given it.
Editor
Olivia BuckinghamCredit
Lead image: Yoshi Uemura
