
Anna Sui is celebrating 20 years in the fashion business – that is a huge milestone when many designers don’t make it past their paper anniversary.
The fashion designer set the bar for in demand clothes as the supermodels of the 80s and 90s Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss loved her aesthetic so much, they worked her runway shows for free in the beginning. Sui was close friends with influential photographer Steven Meisel and as his star rose, so did hers, but Sui always had a unique creative process and a true love of clothing and craftsmanship that gave her pieces that extra ‘oomph’ everyone looks for that would set her apart from others.
Author Andrew Bolton has taken a look back at her career and the milestones in her professional life in a new book simply titled: Anna Sui. At the Rizzoli Bookstore signing in New York City, Sui reminisced about her first catwalk show:
“It was in 1991, which was the height of the powers of Versace and Chanel. The prospect of doing a fashion show was frightening. It was friends like Steven Meisel and Paul Cavaco who convinced me that I had to do it. Linda [Evangelista] and Naomi [Campbell] helped me get all the other models together, and Linda was backstage directing the dressing. Friends like Francois [Nars] and Garren did the hair and makeup, so it was a meaningful experience that all of my friends supported me.”
Anna’s advice to fashion designers trying to make it today? Learn your craft well and focus on what you’re good at – sportswear, swimwear, evening – whatever you excel at will help you wade through what can be such a brutal business.
For a retrospective look at Sui’s career – some say the quintessential downtown NY style queen, grab a copy of the tome at Chronicle books.
[image: Flashpoint/WENN.com]