Runway to success

Being iconic

Tam has designed for a number of celebrities, from supermodel Naomi Campbell, and Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and Jessica Alba to pop star Lady Gaga and US First Lady Jill Biden. For her FW17 runway show in New York, the designer dressed former US first daughters Ivanka and Tiffany Trump.

The designer-turned-icon has written a book, China Chic (2006), and has pieces from her collections in the permanent archives of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, London's Victoria and Albert Museum, and Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum. In 2007 she won both the Visionary Award at the Asian Excellence Awards and Veuve Clicquot's Business Woman of the Year Award. In 2017 she picked up the International Designer of the Year Award at the China Fashion Awards.

Asked about her proudest moment to date, however, Tam reminisces about her first runway show at New York Fashion Week in 1993. "I didn't want to use borrowed money so I worked very, very hard to save up for my first show," she says. "When I finally made it, it was a dream come true. Everyone loved the collection and it earned me my first Women's Wear Daily cover, as well as many buyer orders."

Nearly three decades later, Tam's designs continue to evolve in response to the changing times. This spirit of innovation is evident across her collections, not least the recent Web3-inspired show. "I'm very intrigued by the NFT community: we share the same principle of uniqueness and borderless possibilities."

The designer is committed to sustainability through reducing fabric waste - using leftover material to create patchworks and masks, for example.

"I try to use natural materials like cotton and linen as much as possible; also, innovative sustainable materials made from recycled bottles for bags and linings," Tam says.

She often visits rural villages in China, as part of her mission to help local artisans turn their wares into products. Some of her own designs are inspired by traditional artisanal craft. "I work with villagers to produce crochet, beading and craftwork so they can make a better living," Tam explains. "At the same time, (I help) revitalize their culture and craft by incorporating them in my designs."

When it comes to her clothing, bringing positivity to the wearer is paramount. "I seek to empower women through my designs," says Tam.

She mentions seven-time Paralympic gold medal fencer Alison Yu, who models for her label, as one embodying the Vivienne Tam ethos. "She is strong and beautiful, full of positive energy and courage that empower my designs, and at the same time my designs empower her as a woman. I love that exchange."