Fashion designer Vivienne Tam expresses her distinctive style through marrying traditional elements with a modern image. This spirited designer is recognized in the fashion world for her innovative and cutting edge creations that possess a timeless quality.
Tam has been a forerunner in fashion since she designed her first collection in 1981. She developed fresh interpretations of crochet and pleated fabrics long before these trends prevailed on European and American runways. While her designs are clearly contemporary, there is an enduring quality that captures the attention of women around the world. When designing, Tam says she does not envision her ideal customer rather she creates with the idea that every design will take on a new image with each person.
"Once I put an idea on cloth, that cloth becomes a garment, and when somebody wears the garment it comes to life," says Tam. "I want to design harmonious and beautiful clothing that enhance one's personality."
Tam brings to her apparel a rare global and cultural perspective. Born in Canton, she was brought up in Hong Kong where she studied design at Polytechnic. After a brief stint designing in London, Tam moved to New York where she thrived on the excitement and energy of the fashion world. Her first collection under the East Wind Code (meaning good fortune and prosperity) was met with great success. In 1990, she shifted gears with a designer collection under her own name that has evolved into the most exciting, salable and reliable fashion lines.
Aside from fashion, Tam's other consuming passion is travel. The Orient and other exotic destinations remain her greatest source of inspiration. The intricate handworked elements that appear in many of her designs stem from Asia. In contrast to these delicate images is Tam's relaxed, easy-going silhouettes with modern clean lines. Her ambition is to provide women with beautifully designed, superior quality fashion that is concurrently wearable and affordable.
Tam has cultivated a strong international following through her apparel and accessories. Her collection is sold in Sweden, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan, Beirut, South Africa, Australia and the Philippines. Prominent stores in the United States carrying her collection include Barney's, Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, Sak's Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Marshall Fields and Henri Bendel. Tam is also building her own network of boutiques with three currently in Hong Kong and more planned in New York and London.