Story

THIS IS ME

I'm Jessica Ly, the founder and creator of Fashion Bake and the proud daughter of refugees. My parents and grandparents are the Vietnamese boat people who escaped during the Vietnam war. Throughout generations our homes have been displaced but one thing that has remained is our food. Home for us isn’t a place...it’s wherever our comfort food is - it’s where simple dishes passed down generations are served on our tables. ⁠

Our food represents our journey from Vietnam, to Hong Kong, to the UK. Food has the power to connect and bring people around a table and create memories. It's our love language. I want everybody to feel the way I feel when biting in to our dumplings...pure JOY.

In March 2020, I was made redundant effective immediately from my marketing job in London. The first thing I made/ate was dumplings. ⁠In a state of anxiety and fear, pleating dumplings became my therapy. I spent the next 2 months recipe testing and had 5 weeks left of my tenancy in Royal Wharf, London. I had an idea. I LOVE dumplings, they're a staple in our house and the best comfort food...what if I tried selling frozen dumplings?⁠ EVERYBODY needs frozen dumplings in their freezer - they're delicious parcels of joy and super quick and easy to make and ready in under 20 minutes! We made and sold out of our dumplings every week for 5 weeks and launched frozen dumplings in Northampton in September 2020.

In July 2021 we did our first street food event, in July 2022 we got a truck and now we're popping up here, there and everywhere spreading happiness and joy!

Our WHY

⁠⁠My mission throughout my life has always been to make a difference no matter how small, to spread happiness and joy. Making dumplings, feeding the community and connecting with you via food is my way of spreading happiness.

We're on a mission to spread happiness and joy, one dumpling and bao at a time! We're currently based in and feeding the community in Northampton!

Grandad Ly

This is gramps aka grandad Ly aka my best friend. In 1979, he bought a boat in secret, let 140 people on and escaped the Vietnam war. They didn’t know if they would survive but it was the only way out and chance at survival. They went through deadly storms and my dad and grandad often say, it was a miracle they survived and are here. They made their way to Hong Kong via China and in 1980 they came to a refugee camp (Morton Hall) in Lincolnshire. He saved and changed the trajectory of those 140 lives and the generations to follow. ⁠⁠

⁠He is my driving force and the reason I do what I do; I am so proud of who I am and our journey to now. When I ever have down days I remember where I came from, who I am. Our food represents our journey of true grit, resilience and survival.