Vivienne Tam Fall 2008 – Himalayan/Disney Inspired Designs

Vivienne Tam Fall 2008 – Himalayan/Disney Inspired Designs

Vivienne Tam was born in Canton, China, and raised in Hong Kong.  After graduation, she moved to New York, where she cultivated her interest in fashion. In 1994, Vivienne Tam launched her signature collection of Eastern-inspired clothing with a modern edge on the New York runways.  In 1995, she introduced a collection that triumphantly crossed over from the fashion world to the art world.  In 1997, Vivienne Tam launched the Buddha collection.  Some of the images became extremely popular so that her look was adopted by several designers.  Certain pieces of the collections were inducted into the permanent archives of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, The Museum of FIT, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Vivienne Tam continues to appeal to a wide demographic with inspired, fresh collections every season. And her fall 2008 ready-to-wear collection is no different.  The Disney-inspired designs, coupled with Himalayan thangka painting are an interesting juxtaposition of inspirations. The colors Vivienne Tam chose for her new collection are vividly rich with unexpected color combinations.  Her signature dimensional cutout technique, which we’ve seen in past collections, managed to be fresh and new.  And a  quilted theme appeared throughout her new collection.  Some of the pieces included geometric-styled dresses with shimmering fabrics in gold.  Other notable pieces included a gold cardigan worn over a gold embroidered skirt.  All dresses were thigh-length, and few of them were adorned with cutouts of Mickey and Minnie Mouse, lending a youthful vibe.  All garments were worn with various colored tights, boots, and a minimal selection of muted-colored heels.

What inspired your collection this season?

The Hemalayan arts. (Thangka prints)  I love these paintings because they are all the same. They have clouds, fire, and lotuses.  I love to interpret them into my clothes.  When I saw the paintings, I started with the prints, and then I went into all the borders and applications. And then I think about what is the right silhouette for those beautiful textures and prints.

How did you come up with the fabrics?

When I started my business, I had no money, so I ended up creating my own fabrics. So it’s very special, and nobody has it. I used a real basic fabric to create my own special fabrics.  When I started, I couldn’t afford the European fabrics.

I did find that your fabrics are unique. I love how you’re able to assimilate within a wide range of demographics with your clothing.  Do you have a favorite piece out of this collection?

Every piece is essentially my favorite piece.

Vivienne Tam’s clothing brand is inspired by Chinese design and modern fashion.

Her shops can be found in most major cities around the world. Madonna and Julia Roberts are among Tam’s celebrity fans.

To learn more about Vivienne Tam, visit her websitewww.viviennetam.com.

By Kaylene Peoples