The Rise of Asia

Asian designers or asian descendants seem to have an exceptional sense of style. From Harajuku girls to Phillip Lim, Asia has proven its taste in fashion through out the centuries. Not only its long history and culture are a great inspiration to modern designers, but Asian designers are rocking the runways worldwide!

I've been planning to publish this post a long time now, since I'm astonished by how Asians have done so well in the fashion industry. I wanted to make a tribute post to older and younger designers with Asian roots.

VERA WANG:

(SS 2010 collection ready-to-wear)

Vera Wang is an American fashion designer, based in NYC. Her parents were born in Shanghai, China. She is known for her haute couture pieces and wedding gown collection. She was a senior fashion editor for Vogue for sixteen years. In 1990, she opened her own design salon in New York at the Carlyle Hotel that features her trademark wedding gowns. Today she one of the most respected fashion designers in the industry and her collections are highly praised by the magazines and adored by celebrities.

JASON WU:

(SS 2010 collection)

Jason Wu is an American fashion designer, based in Manhattan, NYC. He was born in Taiwan and raised in Vancouver, Canada. He studied at Parsons School of Design. His designs have been worn by many celebrities and in 2008 he was nominated for the Vogue Fashion Fund Award. First lady Michelle Obama is particularly fond of his creations and has sported them multiple times. He is one of the best newcomers in the industry and has a great future ahead of him.

PHILLIP LIM:

Phillip Lim is an American fashion designer born in Thailand. He has been head of 3.1 Phillip Lim

(one of my favorite brands) from 2004 to present. He was awarded the 2007 CFDA Emerging Talent in Womenswear for his work as creative director of 3.1 Phillip Lim.

KENZO:

(SS 2010 collection)

Kenzo (full name Kenzo Takada) was born in Himeji, Japan. He is a japanese fashion designer and he is also founder of Kenzo a worldwide brand of perfumes, skincare products, cosmetics and clothes. Since 1993 the brand Kenzo is owned by French luxury good company LVMH. Kenzo announced his retirement in 1999, leaving his assistants of his fashion house.

ISSEY MIYAKE:

(SS 2010 collection)

Issey Miyake is a Japanese fashion designer, born in Hiroshima, Japan. He is famous for his "garment pleating" that he introduced in the late '80s.

JEN KAO:

Jen Kao is a Japanese female designer, one of the most promising of the industry. He work has been exceptionally admired the past few years. I couldn't find much info about her, but her work is surely worth the reference.

THAKOON:

Thakoon Panichgul is an American fashion designer, born in Thailand and raised in Omaha, Nebraska (me moved there at the age of 11). Thakoon is known for blending distinctly different influences in his work, imparting a feminine spirit into a youthful sporty line. His creations have been worn Michelle Obama (First Lady apparently loves the Asian spirit! :P). He studied at Parsons School of Design in NYC. He has dressed various celebrities, among whom are Rachel Bilson and Sarah Jessica Parker. (Carrie should know!)

ANDREW GN:

Andrew Gn is a Singapore-born fashion designer, based in Paris. Among his popular clients are Tamara Mellon and Candance Bushnell (author of the SATC books). His work is associated with high fashion elements and he loves the bourgeois feeling and the one-of-a kind event-dressing.

DEREK LAM:

(with Olivia Palermo)

(SS 2010 collection)

Derek Lam is an American fashion designer born in San Fransisco, California and is of Chinese American parentage. He studied at Parsons School of Design and started off in New York when he became vice president for Michael Kors' Kors line. He debuted at the New York fashion week in 2003, so he is a newcomer. In 2005, he won the CFDA Perry Ellis Swarovski award for new designers. Lam in addition to his own line, also works as TOD'S creative director for ready-to-wear and accessories.

PRABAL GURUNG:

(Fall 2010 collection)

Prabal was born in Singapore, and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. He began his career in New Delhi, India and he participated in the New York fashion week in February 2009 for the first time. His Fall 2010 collection he staged his first runway show in the tents at Bryant Park. He is one of the most promising new designers of his generation and his work has already been loved by young Hollywood stars, among whom are Ashley Greene, Kristen Stewart and Leighton Meester.

xoxo

Athena