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Vivienne Tam defines ‘China chic’
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THE Asian invasion of fashion by designers around the globe typically translates into sexy Chinese sheaths, mandarin collars and kimonos. But what sets Vivienne Tam apart is a different approach to Asian aesthetics—her ability to tweak Chinese prints with a Western twist.
“China Chic” is, in fact, the name of her book to be published, for which she polled people in the streets of her native China to discover how they define style.
Style is spiritual to Tam. Worn from Hollywood to Hong Kong, her stretchy mesh prints come alive with Buddhas, fierce dragons and peony patterns.
“The Buddha image has always been in the temple, and I wanted to make it more accessible to the people,” says Tam. “On clothing, it’s like a walking image, not just for the person wearing it, but for the people looking at it. It’s a reminder of ourselves, that we have Buddha in our heart.”
Tam, with sleek, black shoulder-length hair, managed to stand out. In 1995 she was named as one of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People”.
Born in Guangzhou, she remained at home with her grandparents but joined her family in Hong Kong one year later.
Fashion came early to Tam, who learned to sew when she was eight while watching her parents tailor garments. Her bicultural upbringing fuelled her fascination with East-meets-West, which became her signature style.
After graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, she headed to New York with a duffel bag filled with promising designs. She created her first collection in 1982 under the label East Wind Code, which refers to an old Chinese saying for good luck.
In 1994, Tam launched her first collection under her namesake label. Three years later, she opened her New York store. She also has boutiques in Hong Kong and Kobe.
“Her clothes are the perfect balance of being simple but also unique,” Julia Roberts told People magazine. “You can be comfortable and still look better than everyone else.”(SD-Agencies)
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