As Daniel Kwan, one half of the directing duo The Daniels, took the stage to accept the award for Best Director Everything everywhere at once, he showed a special message on his jacket; a PUNK application on large yellow letters. The jacket was an homage to a vest with the word PUNK on the front and back, worn by Michelle Yeoh’s character Evelyn Wong in a pivotal scene in the film.
“It came in a scene where she smashed the window,” explained Shirley Kurata, the film’s costume designer, “and it was an example of what she was going through and who she really was. She became badass and punk at that moment.
The vest has already become a touchstone for fans around the world; there are reproductions available on Etsy, and the original piece recently sold at auction for 15,000. Proceeds benefited The Transgender Law Center.