Anna Sui

Bio:
Anna Sui (born Xiāo Zhìměi in Detroit, Michigan on August 4, 1964) is an American fashion designer. She has received many honors including being named one of the “Top 5 Fashion Icons of the Decade” by Time magazine. She also earned the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2009, which put her in the company of Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Diane von Furstenberg. Anna was born to French-educated Chinese emigrants and by the time she was four years old, she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer. She ended up moving to New York City when she was old enough and attended Parsons. Anna’s first runway show took place in 1991. In 1992, Sui opened her first retail location in New York City’s Soho District. From her first show, Anna was known for her light-hearted, whimsical, homemade and entertaining approach to showcasing her collections. Her runway atmosphere often had a distinct party vibe and the antics of guests and participants were described as a distinct cultural scene of the period. Her brand categories include several fashion lines, footwear, cosmetics, fragrance, eyewear, jewelry, accessories, and even a gifts line. Anna Sui products are sold through her free-standing stores and distributors around the world in over 50 countries. Since 1991, Anna has done two seasonal fashion shows every year, with the exception of the Spring/Summer 2002 show which she canceled in respect to the victims of the September 11 attacks. In addition to the seasonal shows, Sui also has partnered with a variety of brands and companies such as Hush Puppies, Target Corporation, Ford Motor Company, O’Neill, Coach, Victoria’s Secret, and VOGUE.

Best Known For:
Anna Sui is best known for being a highly talented fashion designer.

Personal Life:
Anna Sui is a matrilineal descendant of the Fang family of Tongcheng, Anhui, a Ming and Qing dynasty noble family known for its many scholars and philosophers. She is also an 18th generation descendant of Fang Bao, who was the influential Chinese poet who founded the Tongcheng School of literary prose popular throughout the Qing Empire.