Anna Sui | |
|---|---|
 Sui in 2009 | |
| Born | (1955-08-04)August 4, 1955 (age 70) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | Parsons School of Design |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Labels | |
| Awards | CFDA Perry Ellis New Talent Award Time – Top 5 Fashion Icons of the Decade[5] CFDA Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award[6] Bravo A-List Award[7] Classic Icon of Fashion and Design Identities – Leadership in the Arts Award[8] 2017 Honorary Doctorate Recipient,The New School[9] |
| Website | annasui |
| Anna Sui | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 蕭志美 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 萧志美 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Japanese name | |||||||||
| Kana | アナスイ | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Anna Sui (Chinese:蕭志美;pinyin:Xiāo Zhìměi; born August 4, 1955)[10][11] is an American fashion designer. Her brand categories include several fashion lines, footwear, cosmetics,fragrances,eyewear, jewelry,accessories and home goods.[12]
Sui was named one of the "Top 5 Fashion Icons of the Decade" for 2000–2010,[13] and in 2009 earned theGeoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from theCouncil of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), joining the ranks ofYves Saint Laurent,Giorgio Armani,Ralph Lauren, andDiane von Furstenberg.[14]
Sui is a second-generation Chinese-American born inDetroit,Michigan. Her father, Paul Sui (Chinese:蕭惠光;pinyin:Xiāo Huìguāng) and mother, Grace Sui Fang (方光琪;Fāng Guāngqí) met while studying at theSorbonne in Paris where Sui's father was studying engineering and her mother, painting.[15] Her paternal grandparents were Xiao Yulan (蕭毓蘭;Xiāo Yùlán), aTahitian-Chinese businessman, and his wife Qiu Daidi (丘帶娣;Qiū Dàidì).[16][17] Her maternal grandparents wereFang Chih, a Chinese diplomat and his Japanese wife named Fang I-chih (born Masue Ueki).[18][19][20]
Sui is a matrilineal descendant of the prominent Fang clan ofTongcheng,Anhui, notable for its manyscholars and philosophers.[21] She is an 18th generation descendant ofFang Bao, an influentialChinese poet who founded theTongcheng School of literaryprose popular throughout the Qing Empire.[22] Notableancestors also include Fang Gongcheng,tutor of theimperial palace, andFang Guancheng,Viceroy of Zhili seated atTianjin from 1749 to 1768 amongst other Qing era scholars.[23][24] Her niece is actress and modelChase Sui Wonders.[25]
By the time she was four years old, Sui knew she wanted to be a fashion designer.[8][26] Sui's mother taught her about putting together a wardrobe, bringing a young Sui with her to shop for fabrics. Sui would spend hours watching her mother sew and would collect the fabric scraps to clothe herBarbie dolls and her brothers' army action figures. Through this process, Sui learned the basics of making clothing and soon she was putting together her own outfits. This was accomplished by buying pattern pieces for the sleeves of a dress, and swapping them to match other dresses, to create her own look for the garments.[8]
As a teen, she read an article[27] inLife magazine about the achievements ofMia Fonssagrives-Solow and Vicky Tiel who graduated fromParsons School of Design in New York City and then moved to Paris, whereElizabeth Taylor andRichard Burton opened a boutique with the girls. Sui credits reading this article as a pivotal moment in her youth, which gave her clear direction on her goals for her future.[28]
Sui moved to New York and attendedParsons, but after finishing her second year,[29] Sui was hired in 1975 by Erica Elias' juniors clothing label Charlie's Girls,[30] where she learned by designing forsportswear labels and doing styling on the photography shoots of friend and former Parsons' classmateSteven Meisel.[31] Sui's work as a stylist for Meisel's shoots featured in the Italian magazineLei specifically were very well received.[15] After the closing of Charlie's Girls, Sui worked for several other sportswear designers including Bobbie Brooks and Simultanee.[8][15]
During this time, she began designing and making clothes out of her apartment.[32] Sui stated that she was inspired to branch out on her own by a desire to dress rock stars and people who attended their concerts.[33] Indeed, during this period, the majority of her personal business was focused on targeting sales to music stores.[15] While working for the sportswear company Glenora, she brought her collection of five pieces to a New Yorktrade show, and caught the attention of New Yorkdepartment storesBloomingdale's andMacy's.[8]
A few weeks later, in August 1979, those clothes were featured in a full-page Macy's ad in the Sunday edition ofThe New York Times.[34] The manager at Glenora, where Sui was still on the payroll, was furious when he saw the advertisement in theTimes and fired her on the spot. Left without a job, Sui took her $300 in savings and started a business out of a little corner of the living room in her apartment.[35] For several years Sui ran the company out of her apartment, doing odd-jobs for spare income and reinvesting every penny of earnings into her business.
The 1980s was the height of "power-dressing", with companies such asChanel,Lacroix andVersace setting the standard. Sui struggled to stand up next to the big-name fashion houses. Sui was one of the few designers of the period who distanced herself from the traditional fashion houses and explored the grunge fashion scene together with designers such asMarc Jacobs,Daryl K andTodd Oldham. Around 1987, Sui got the opportunity to move her line into Annette B, a showroom curated by Annette Breindel. Breindel, who had a history of nurturing young designers, was a major influence for Sui and helped the designer emerge onto the fashion scene. During this period, Sui finally was able to move her operation out of her apartment and into thegarment district.[15] By the late 1980s, Sui had gained a globalcult-like following, getting the attention of Japanese fashion powerhouses such as Onward Kashiyama. Sui would go on to greatly expand Japanese operations in the mid 90s.[36][37]
AtParis Fashion Week in 1991, Sui received one of the first major breakthroughs of her career. Sui was driving with her friendSteven Meisel to see theJean Paul Gaultier show. On the way to the show, they stopped to pick upMadonna, a friend of Meisel's. Madonna surprised Sui by wearing her clothing to the event. Madonna would later wear the same outfit again for Meisel's photoshoot forVogue.[38][39][40][41] Sui's firstrunway show took place later that year upon her return to New York City.[42][43]
In 1991, Meisel, Paul Cavaco and Sui's supermodel friends,Naomi Campbell,Christy Turlington andLinda Evangelista, got together and encouraged her to try a runway show.[15][44] Sui rented a small space in theMeatpacking District and paid the models by giving them the clothes. The successful show was the biggest breakthrough of Sui's career, withThe New York Times commenting in reference to Sui's celebrity runway models: "That those beauties [Campbell and Evangelista] were then at the height of their fame helped stoke the reception Sui got frombuyers and the news media."[45]
From her first show, Sui was known for her light-hearted, whimsical, homemade and entertaining approach to showcasing her collections.[46] The influences came from contemporary shows by designers such asThierry Mugler andJean Paul Gaultier where one of the goals was to charm the audience with the atmosphere created.[15] The atmosphere often had a distinct party vibe and the antics of guests and participants were described as a distinct cultural scene of the period.[47] Starting in 1995, Sui's designs were showcased regularly inVogue Patterns. Her debut with the style magazine featured dresses from her Spring/Summer 1995 collection inspired by periodpulp comics and the puffed sleeve, square shouldered, floral dress fashion popular during thewar rationing years of1940s era fashion.[48]
The designer opened her first retail location in 1992[42] at 113 Greene Street in New York City'sSoho District. Theflagship store was known for its red floors,antique black furniture, signature dolly headmannequins and its purple walls which Sui painted herself.[49]
In 1993, the Anna Sui Corporation opened a store inHollywood atLa Brea Avenue expanding coverage and controlling North Americandistribution.[50] The same year, Sui introduced menswear into her runway collections withMick Jagger later appearing onSaturday Night Live in one of the designer's suits.[51] Later, in June 2015, Sui relocated her Sohoflagship store to 424Broome Street from its previous 23 year long location onGreene Street.[49][52] The store moved out of the Broome Street space in late 2020.
1997 marked one of the pivotal years in the emergence of Sui onto the world stage. The first freestanding Anna Suiboutiques opened in 1997 in Tokyo andOsaka through a distribution and sales license withIsetan.[42] Sui also partnered with Italian shoemaker Ballin to create a shoe line.[48] For the Spring/Summer 1997 fashion collection, Sui drew considerable media attention whenDave Navarro of theRed Hot Chili Peppers appeared on the runway for her show in underwear only.[53][54] The same year, mannequin designer Ralph Pucci made full sizedmannequins using her dolly heads. The mannequins were based on the measurements of modelMichele Hicks and would later form the inspiration for Sui's firstdiffusion brand, Dolly Girl.[8] The Fall/Winter collection, which took place at theChurch of Divine Paternity, agothic style church in Manhattan, was noted at the time for its infusion of whimsy and lightheartedness and its repudiation of the conspicuously dark undertones traditionally associated withgothic fashion.[48]
In 1999, Anna Sui launched herfragrance, Anna Sui Classic, withWella AG and cosmetics line withAlbion.[42][55]
In 2000, Sui launched a skincare line, also with Albion.[8] The same year, her collections were featured as a part of theFashion in Motion exhibition at London'sVictoria & Albert Museum.[15]
In 2003, the designer launched her Dolly Girl fragrance together with severallimited edition sets in the Dolly Girl series.[42] The same year, Wella AG was acquired byProcter & Gamble who continued the partnership.[56] In 2003, Sui launched a long-term collaboration collection withPeruvian designer Ali Rapp called Ali Rapp for Anna Sui. The collaboration consists of ready to wear, handbags, fashion accessories, T-shirts and cloth dolls. Items have been featured in Sui's shows in 2008 and 2013.[57]
In April 2004, the designer entered a collaboration withDark Horse Comics andWilliam Tucci designing the wardrobe for several of the main characters in Tucci'sShi: Ju-Nen,[58] a miniseries in the hit comicShi. Sui took the wardrobes from her Fall 2004 fashion collection, with items includingyukata kimono minidresses and purplehose andhigh-heels.[59][60] In October, Sui partnered withGonzo K.K. Studios to design costumes for the characters in their 2004 television seriesGankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, a series loosely based onThe Count of Monte Cristo by French authorAlexandre Dumas.[61]
In 2005, Sui was contracted bySamsung Electronics Co. in partnership withVogue to design a Samsung SGH-E315cell phone.[62] The limited edition handset which was available throughT-Mobile sold out in the first month with products occasionally coming for sale oneBay.[63][64][65] Sui also partnered withAnthropologie to launch a fashion collection called Anna Sui for Anthropologie.[66][67] The same year, Sui also entered into a 2-year deal withVictoria's Secret designing a lingerie line for the company.[8]
In 2006, Anna Sui launched a limited edition Anna Sui BohoBarbie doll in partnership withMattel. She later launched a limited edition collection withVictoria's Secret called Anna Sui for Victoria's Secret.[42]
For theHello Kitty 30th Anniversary in 2007, Sui partnered with the Japanese company to create a limited edition collection in tribute to the milestone. Thestuffed animals from this collection sell for over US$100.00 on eBay.[68] In November 2007, Sui followed up on the success of her US cell phone collaboration with the launch of the Dolly Girl by Anna Sui model fanfun. 815T cell phone in collaboration withSoftbank Mobile which was distributed online in Japan.[69]
In 2008, Sui launched the Dolly Girl clothing collection in Japan to follow-up on her previous fragrance lines. Later in 2008, Sui partnered withNissan to design a customized car, theNissan 350z Anna Sui Limited Edition which was featured at various roadshows.
In 2011, Sui collaborated with Google to create a themedGoogle Chrome web browser extension.[70]
In November 2012, Sui and Albion partnered with UK online seller ASOS to launch a Fall/Winter 2013 Anna Sui Cosmetics line in Europe. The series featured a collaboration withDisney.[71]
In April 2014, Sui returned to her native Detroit to partner with theFord Motor Company in creating the Mustang Unleashed Collection celebrating the 50 year anniversary of theFord Mustang.[72] Later in April, Sui and Hong Kong based I.T. Apparels Ltd partnered withLab Made, a Hong Kong ice cream vendor famous for pioneering the obscure market ofliquid nitrogen ice cream to create an Anna Sui ×Lab Made pop-up store which was featured at the company'sTsimshatsui branch throughout April 2014. The collaboration also featured Sui's own flavor of purple ice cream and the opening was announced by Hong Kong celebrityAlfred Hui, a contract artist for Hong Kong'sTelevision Broadcasts Limited.[73] In July, Sui launched a lingerie line in Korea with Alvin Korea Co. Ltd. which was launched with a full scale lingerie fashion show at theRitz Carlton Hotel inSeoul.[74] In October, Sui partnered with theCFDA to launch a collaboration withBest Buy called Anna Sui × Best Buy as a part of their designer's series.[75]
In March 2015, Sui andIsetan partnered withSailor Moon to launch the Sailor Moon × Anna Sui collection which was featured at the Isetan store inShinjuku.[76][77] Sui also partnered with French dessert makerLadurée to create a collaboration called Anna Sui × Ladurée as a part of the Les Merveilleuses Ladurée collection.[78][79]
In November 2015, theStarbucks × Anna Sui collection was announced, a holiday collaboration between the coffeehouse chain and the fashion designer.[80][81]
In August 2016, the 20th anniversary of Sui's entry into the Japanese market, Anna Sui Japan launchedAnna Sui Mag, an online Japanese language magazine and lifestyle blog.[82] ForSingapore's Golden Jubilee, Sui partnered with Uniform and Shentonista to create a commemorative SG50 tote featured in a blog series by Shentonista.[83]
In January 2017, Sui collaborated withKenner/Takara to launchBlythe Adores Anna doll collection.[84] The collection released in Japan with a further 500 dolls being further released via international lottery.[85][86] In 2019, as part of Barbie's 60th anniversary, 4 limited sets of dolls with outfits from Sui's Spring 2019 collection were released.[87]
In 2009, Sui partnered withTarget to produce aGossip Girl inspired line combiningUpper East Side style with a "downtown" edge called Anna Sui for Target. The limited edition collection, with affordable reworkings of pieces from her previous runway collections, was launched in September and sold in more than 800 stores and online.[88]
In 2011, she partnered withHush Puppies to create a limited edition shoe collection which debuted in the Fall 2011 fashion show. She went on to also partner withTumi to create a line of suitcases and travel items.[89]
In 2012, Sui collaborated withCoach and created a handbag line called Anna Sui for Coach.[90]
In February, 2014,Lee Min-ho announced the Anna Sui forFila collection in Asia on behalf ofAnta Sports Products[91] and Fila China which launched in 2015.[92][93] In April 2015, Sui partnered withO'Neill to launch the collaborative collection titled Anna Sui for O'Neill, a collection inspired by the California beach scene.[94] In August, Sui partnered with American boot-makerThe Frye Company to launch a limited edition collection titled Anna Sui × Frye, which expanded a previous collaboration between the two houses to develop boots for Sui's Fall/Winter 2015fashion show. The collection was inspired byNordic culture andHistory Channel's showVikings.[95][96][97][98]
In February 2016, Sui partnered withOpening Ceremony to collaborate on the label's "Year of China" Spring Summer 2016 collection which also featured brands like Renli Su, Ms Min andVivienne Tam amongst others.[99][100] For the collaboration, Sui and Opening Ceremony reissued pieces from Sui's 1993 and 1994 collections.[12]
In July 2017, Sui teamed up with Macy's, the retailer that gave her her first big break more than 35 years earlier. The collection, Anna Sui X International Concepts, included both new versions of runway pieces, jewelry and shoes, as well as "Anna Sui Loves" approved items by Macy's own design team.[101] In August, PBTeen launched Sui's collection, inspired by Art Nouveau and her own adolescent bedroom, with bedding, accessories such as rugs and lamps, and furniture.[102]
In August 2018, Sui collaborated with online retailer Modcloth on an 8-dress capsule collection in extended sizes. The dresses used adapted silhouettes and prints from previous collections in new colorways.[103]
In 1992, Sui won theCFDA Perry Ellis award for new talent.[8]
In 2009, Sui was presented with the Classic Icon of Fashion Design award at the China Fashion Awards in Beijing and with theCFDA'sGeoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in her native New York City.[104][105]
In 2010, Sui collaborated withAndrew Bolton to publish a book chronicling her 20-year career.[106] Later in the year, she launched her Forbidden Affair fragrance.
In April, Sui attended the Identities 2011 fashion show atHarvard College where she spoke to the students and was honored with the program's Leadership of the Arts Award.[107]
From May to November 2013, clothing from Sui's 1999 and 2000 collections were featured at theMuseum at the Fashion Institute of Technology as a part of theirRetroSpective: Fashion & Textile History Gallery exhibition.[108]
In June 2016, a historical retrospective of Sui's designs displayed at the Beijing SKP department store. The collection featured Anna Sui designed items and outfits dating from Sui's first show in 1991 through her 2016 collections.[109][110]
In May 2017, London'sFashion and Textile Museum debuted an Anna Sui exhibition titledThe World of Anna Sui. The exhibition marks the first ever museum retrospective in the United Kingdom featuring an American fashion designer and the first time Sui has been the sole subject of a museum exposition.[111][112] The exhibition announcement coincided with the announcement of a new book on Sui's career byThe Business of Fashion's Editor-at-Large,Tim Blanks.[12] The Anna Sui X INC International Concepts collection forMacy's was announced for September 2017 featuring modelKaren Elson.[113]
In 2018, Sui received theWomen's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Award[114] at the United Nations in recognition for her achievements in fashion.[115]
For her innovative work, Sui has been called a designer who "never panders" byThe New York Times,[116] and earned the distinction of being named toTime magazine's list of the decade's top five fashion icons.[5] Sui's work has been extensively covered both by the journalist industry as a whole and by the fashion press in particular. Her seasonal shows are regularly covered byVogue,Style.com,Women's Wear Daily and many other news and editorial platforms. In general, the ambiance created in the designer's shows is particularly well received with the media commenting on details such as the anticipation surrounding the soundtracks to the playful and lighthearted environment.[117][118]Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week called Sui's career "a classicAmerican success story," quoting Sui's determined attitude: "You have to focus on your dreams, even if they go beyond common sense. How could this young girl from thesuburbs of Detroit become a success in New York? It was always that dream."[119] Reviews generally refer to the thoroughness of the designer's research and her tying together of various trends and topics both historical and current.[15]
In 1996, Sui partnered withGeneral Motors Corporation as a part of the GM/CFDA Concept: Cure collaboration between General Motors and various fashion industry companies, raising awareness about and raising research funds for breast cancer. As a part of the program, Sui designed aGMC Yukon which was sold at silent auction to raise funds.[120]
Following theSeptember 11th attacks in 2001 on New York City'sWorld Trade Center, Sui worked with actorEllen Barkin designing an outfit to raise funds to benefit theLeary Firefighters Foundation and the firefighters who perished in the response.[121]
Sui designs and manufactures her signature collection in her New York City headquarters onFashion Avenue and has been an advocate of herMade in USA approach.[122] In addition to her work as a designer, Sui has ardently fought to keep the industry alive and has spearheaded a campaign to "Save the Garment Center," which was highlighted duringFashion Week in September 2008.[123][124]
Following the2008 Mumbai attacks, Sui put several of her designs up for auction oneBay, donating the proceeds to Citizens for Justice and Peace, aMumbai-basedcivil-rights organization.[125]
In 2010, Sui partnered withIsetan andBearbrick in a charity event benefitting theWorld Wildlife Foundation and Malaysia'sForest Restoration and Orang-utan Monitoring Project, with proceeds from a limited edition collection going to the cause.[126]
In March 2011, following theTōhoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan, Sui designed and sold shirts in lavender and black printed with the wordsJapan, We're All in This Together. All proceeds were turned over to the Japan Disaster Relief Fund.[127]
In 2012, Sui worked with musician and friendJack White to design uniforms for employees at White'sThird Man Records retail store which opened in Nashville in November 2012. A second location also opened in Detroit'sCass Corridor in November 2015 also featuring Sui's uniform dresses.[128][129]
In September 2014, in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the 1939 filmThe Wizard of Oz,Warner Bros. and theTonner Doll Company organized the creation of a collection of commemorative dolls designed by several famous American designers includingMarc Jacobs,Donna Karan,Charlotte Ronson,Trina Turk and Sui. The collection of dolls was exhibited at theFashion Institute of Technology andBloomingdale's between September and October 2014 before being auctioned oneBay Giving Works with proceeds going toHabitat for Humanity's There's No Place Like Home campaign.[130][131]
In June 2015, Sui partnered with New York restaurantSerendipity 3 in a charity fundraiser to celebrate the restaurant's 60 year anniversary benefiting theBowery Mission, a rescue mission and shelter in theBowery area ofManhattan.[132][124]
Sui regularly gives lectures to students and around the United States to inspire future generations to pursue their dreams. In October 2015, Sui spoke to local students about her experiences at theMichigan Theater inAnn Arbor as a part of theUniversity of Michigan'sPenny Stamps Speaker Series hosted by theStamps School of Art and Design.[133] Sui emphasized the need to not be intimidated by the industry which is sometimes described as cutthroat, even recounting her experiences from when she had been fired from a position at a sportswear company early in her career. Following the lecture, some of Sui's designs went on display as part of theDetroit Historical Museum's Booth-Wilkinson Gallery exhibitionFashion D.Fined: The Past, Present and Future of Detroit Fashion.[133]
In January 2017, Sui showcased a pair ofVans shoes she designed to benefit the Vans Custom Culture competition, an annual campaign by Vans raising funds and awareness for high school art programs.[134][135]
Anna Sui Shoes, manufactured inVenice, Italy, premiered on the runway for the fall collection in 1994. Later, Sui began production of a diffusion fashion line called "Sui by Anna Sui" and ajeans line called "Anna Sui Jeans" with Italian fashion house Gilmar S.p.A. The same year, Sui andMarc Jacobs also began consulting for Gilmar's Cento x Cento and Iceberg brand lines respectively.[136][137][138][139]
In 1997, Sui entered into a partnership withIsetan to create afashion accessories line.[42] The line is distributed by Mammina in Japan and present in the United States,Korea, Hong Kong, China andTaiwan.[140]
The Anna Sui Cosmetics line launched in 1999 withAlbion Cosmetics, a Japanese cosmetic brand and production company, following a distribution sales agreement with ISETAN. Ltd. An Anna Sui Skincare line, similarly with Albion followed this up in 2000.[8][15] The cosmetics line releases two seasonal collections per year based on the fashion cycle. The cosmetics line coversvarious categories including base and makeup, eyes, lips, nails, skincare, hair and body, and cosmetics accessories.[141]
In 2010, Anna Sui Cosmetics announcedPark Min Young as the brand'skey opinion leader in South Korea.[142][143]
In October 2016, Anna Sui Cosmetics andNylon Japan launched aHalloween collaboration called Anna Sui × Nylon: Halloween Makeup Room at MODI inShibuya.[144] In August the same year, Sui released her Autumn 2016 collection called Mysterious Fairy Tale.[145]
In July, 2017, Sui collaborated with the store that gave her her first big break, Macy's with Anna Sui X Inc International Concepts. The collection featured reeditions of recent collection items at prices of about a quarter of her collection pieces, plus jewelry and shoes.
The following is an incomplete list of Anna Sui's Cosmetics collections:
| Year/Season | Collection | Partners | Notes | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2007 | Glamour Meets Retro: Art Deco Girl | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal collection | Lily Cole[146] |
| Autumn 2007 | Glamour Meets Retro: Art Deco Girl | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal collection | Lily Cole[146][147] |
| Autumn 2009 | Asia Collection | Albion Cosmetics | Asian Seasonal collection | Agyness Deyn[146] |
| Spring 2010 | Asia Collection | Albion Cosmetics | Asian Seasonal Collection | Agyness Deyn[146] |
| Autumn 2010 | Kaleidoscope of Color | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Frida Gustavsson[146][148] |
| Autumn 2010 | Asia Collection | Albion Cosmetics | Asian Seasonal Collection | Agyness Deyn[146] |
| Spring 2011 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Frida Gustavsson[146] | |
| Autumn 2011 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Frida Gustavsson[146] | |
| Spring 2012 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Frida Gustavsson[146] | |
| Autumn 2012 | Rebel Girl[149] | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Chrystal Copland[146] |
| 2013 | Anna Sui Beauty 2013 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Annual Collection | Chrystal Copland[146] |
| Spring 2013 | Drama Queen[150] | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Chrystal Copland |
| Spring 2015 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Ine Neefs[146] | |
| Autumn 2015 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Ine Neefs[146] | |
| Spring 2016 | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | Maartje Verhoef[146] | |
| Autumn 2016 | Mysterious Fairy Tale[145] | Albion Cosmetics | Global Seasonal Collection | |
| October 2016 | Anna Sui x Nylon: Halloween Style[144] | Albion Cosmetics | Japanese Non Seasonal Collection | Nairu Yamamoto, Amy, Shinjyu Ried |
Sui has done 2 seasonal Fashion Week runway shows every year since 1991 with the exception of the Spring/Summer 2002 show, which was held in her Garment District studio[151] due to theSeptember 11 attacks on theTwin Towers.[48] Design and production takes place in New York City'sGarment Center.[122] The designer also has produced two seasonal Japanese collections since 1997 based on the global collections and a Resort collection since 2007.[152] In addition to the seasonal shows, Sui also has partnered with a variety of brands and companies such asHush Puppies,Target Corporation,Ford Motor Company,Tumi,Isetan,Fila,O'Neill,Samsung,Mattel,Coach,T-Mobile,Victoria's Secret,Pottery Barn andVogue to producelimited edition collections.
In 1997, Sui began a partnership withIsetan Mitsukoshi covering Sui's fashion label in Japan.[42]
In April 2016, the Anna Sui Japan Spring/Summer 16 show was premiered in Tokyo to kick off the collection's launch with much fanfare in celebration of the designer's 20th Anniversary in Japan.[153]
The following is an incomplete list of Sui's fashion shows and collections:
| Collection | Date | Event | Location | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Sui 1991 | 1991 | Press Week of New York | Unknown | Unknown |
| Anna Sui Winter 1991 | 1991 | Press Week of New York | Unknown | Swinging Sixties London[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1992 | 1991 | Press Week of New York | Unknown | Barbie[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1992 | 1992 | Press Week of New York | Unknown | Swinging Sixties London[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1993 | 1992 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | London Grunge[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1993 | 1993 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Charles Baudelaire[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1994 | 1993 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Grunge[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1994 | 1994 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Chanel,Balenciaga, andMcCardell[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1995 | 1994 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | 1970s Funk[48][154] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1995 | 1995 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | 1940s and 1960s[48][155] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1996 | 1995 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Preppie[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1996 | 1996 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | 1920s British Vogue and 1970s Twig[156] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1997 | 1996 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Hippie[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1997 | 1997 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Leicester Square[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1998 | 1997 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Surfer[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1998 | 1998 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Fairytale[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 1999 | 1998 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Euro/English[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 1999 | 1999 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Technicolor, golden age cinema[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2000 | 1999 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | India/Rococo Gypsy[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2000 | 2000 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | hippie-chic[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2001 | 2000 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Mudd Club/Grunge[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2001 | 2001 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | The Factory (Warhol)[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2002 | 2001 | No runway show; small studio presentation due to 9/11 | N/A | N/A[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2002 | 2002 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Fairy Tale[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2003 | 2002 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Sport[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2003 | 2003 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | London boutique Biba[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2004 | 2003 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | teenage surfer girl[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2004 | 2004 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | 60s London[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2005 | 2004 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Wild West[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2005 | 2005 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Louise Nevelson/Junk Art[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2006 | 2005 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Gazette du Bon Ton[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2006 | 2006 | New York Fashion Week | Bryant Park | 60s chic[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2007 | 2006 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | The New York Dolls/Marie Antoinette/Suleiman the Magnificent[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2007 | 2007 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Pre-pop[48] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2008 | 2007 | Unknown | Unknown | Ossie Clark[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2008 | 2007 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Busby Berkeley/Biba[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2008 | 2008 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Pre-Raphaelite/Medievalism/Gustav Klimt/American Indians[48] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2009 | 2008 | Unknown | Unknown | Psychedelia[48] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2009 | 2008 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Spanishtoreador[48] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2009 | 2009 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | 1890s[48] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2010 | 2009 | Unknown | Unknown | Sundress |
| Anna Sui for Target[157] | 2009 | Collection Launch | USA | Gossip Girl |
| Anna Sui Spring 2010 | 2009 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Spring Fling |
| Anna Sui Fall 2010 | 2010 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | American Arts and Crafts Movement |
| Anna Sui Resort 2011 | 2010 | Unknown | Unknown | romantic and dreamy |
| Anna Sui Spring 2011 | 2010 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Pioneer/60s L.A. |
| Anna Sui Fall 2011 | 2011 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Ormsby-Gore sisters, Ballets Russes |
| Anna Sui Resort 2012 | 2011 | Unknown | Unknown | David Hicks' Paris shop |
| Anna Sui Spring 2012 | 2011 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | Antonio Lopez/Club Sept/Paris 1970s[158] |
| Anna Sui for Tumi 2012[159] | 2013 | Collection Launch | Global | Luggage Sets |
| Anna Sui for Hush Puppies[160] | 2012 | Collection Launch | Global | Vintage and Rock |
| Anna Sui Fall 2012 | 2012 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | fantasy/textile design |
| Anna Sui Resort 2013 | 2012 | Unknown | Unknown | Art Nouveau |
| Anna Sui for Coach[161] | 2012 | Collection Launch | Global | Art Nouveau |
| Anna Sui Spring 2013 | 2012 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week | Bryant Park | London/New York Punk/Second French Empire |
| Anna Sui Fall 2013 | 2013 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Fall) | Lincoln Center | '60s nostalgia/French New Wave Cinema[162][163] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2014 | 2013 | Unknown | Unknown | Boho-chic |
| Anna Sui for Tumi 2013[159] | 2013 | Collection Launch | Global | Luggage Sets |
| Anna Sui Spring 2014 | 2013 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Spring) | Lincoln Center | Pre-Raphaelite[164] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2014 | 2014 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Fall) | Lincoln Center | 1920s Art Deco[162] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2015 | 2014 | Unknown | Unknown | Art Deco |
| Anna Sui for FILA[165] | 2014 | Collection Launch | Asia | Sportswear |
| Mustang Unleashed Collection[72] | 2014 | Collection Launch | Global | Vintage |
| Anna Sui Spring 2015 | 2014 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Spring) | Lincoln Center | Retro 70s prints[166] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2015 | 2015 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Fall) | Lincoln Center | Vikings[96] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2016 | 2015 | Unknown | Unknown | '70s boho[167] |
| Anna Sui for O'Neill[94] | 2015 | Collection Launch | Global | Beach-Ready |
| Anna Sui × Frye[98] | 2015 | Collection Launch | USA | Footwear |
| Anna Sui × Sailor Moon[76] | 2015 | Collection Launch | Japan | Collectibles |
| Anna Sui × Starbucks[81] | 2015 | Collection Launch | Asia | Holiday Collectibles |
| Anna Sui Spring 2016 | 2015 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Spring) | Skylight atMoynihan Station | exoticPolynesia[168] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2016 | 2016 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Fall) | Skylight at Moynihan Station | Peter Blake,Niki de Saint Phalle,Barbara Hulanicki[169] |
| Anna Sui Resort 2017 | 2016 | Unknown | Unknown | 90's Grunge[170] |
| Anna Sui Spring 2017 | 2016 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Spring) | Skylight at Moynihan Station | Miss American Pie[171] |
| Anna Sui Fall 2017 | 2017 | Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Fall) | Skylight Clarkson Square | Elsa Schiaparelli,Elsie de Wolfe,Dorothy di Frasso,Blithe Spirit[124] |
In 1994, Sui launched Anna Sui Footwear through a partnership with Italian shoemaker Ballin with design taking place in New York and production inVenice, Italy.[42] Her design style became widely available as part of a multi-designer capsule, when she customized Candie's platform heels in the 1990s.
Since 2009, Sui has collaborated with Britishergonomic footwear company FitFlop to produce a shoe line called Anna Sui x FitFlop, comprising multiple collections.
In September 2016, the Anna Sui Loves FitFlop collection was launched. Product design was based on Sui's Spring/Summer 2016 fashion collection and the designer'sTahitian heritage. It is distributed globally by FitFlop to Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, UK and Vietnam.[172] Sui has also collaborated with and featured footwear on her runways from such designers as John Fleuvog, Terry De Havilland, Emma Hope, Bed Stu, and Teva.
Sui introduced her fragrance and line in 1999 withWella AG, to date the designer has launched a variety of cosmetic items and 30 individual fragrance products with most coming in different sizes. The designer's current fragrance license is with French company Inter Parfums and generally releases two hero fragrances per year.[8] In 2011, She also entered into a fragrance license withInterparfums for fragrance and perfume distribution.[42]
The following is a list of Sui's fragrance collections:
| Year | Fragrance | Partner | Notes | Perfumer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Anna Sui Classic[173] | Wella AG | Jacques Huclier | |
| 2000 | Sui Dreams[174] | Wella AG | Part of the Sui Dreams Collection | Philippe Romano |
| 2002 | Sui Love[175] | Wella AG | Jean-Louis Grauby | |
| 2003 | Dolly Girl[176] | Wella AG/Procter & Gamble | Part of the Dolly Girl Collection | Benoist Lapouza |
| 2004 | Dolly Girl Ooh La Love[177] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Dolly Girl Collection | Frank Voelkl |
| 2005 | Secret Wish[178] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Secret Wish Collection | Michel Almairac |
| 2006 | Dolly Girl On The Beach[179] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Dolly Girl Collection | |
| 2006 | Secret Wish Magic Romance[180] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Secret Wish Collection | |
| 2007 | Dolly Girl Bonjour L'Amour[181] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Dolly Girl Collection | |
| 2007 | Flight of Fancy[182] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Fancy Collection | |
| 2008 | Dolly Girl Lil' Starlet[183] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Dolly Girl Collection | |
| 2008 | Night of Fancy[184] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Fancy Collection | |
| 2009 | Live Your Dream[185] | Procter & Gamble | ||
| 2009 | Rock Me![186] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Rock Me Collection | |
| 2010 | Forbidden Affair[187] | Procter & Gamble | ||
| 2010 | Rock Me! Summer of Love[188] | Procter & Gamble | Part of the Rock Me Collection | |
| 2012 | Secret Wish Fairy Dance[189] | Inter Parfums | ||
| 2013 | La Vie de Bohème[190] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Bohème Collection | Philippe Romano |
| 2013 | Tin House Fairy Dance[191] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Tin House Collection | |
| 2013 | Tin House Flight of Fancy[191] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Tin House Collection | |
| 2013 | Tin House Forbidden Affair[191] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Tin House Collection | |
| 2013 | Tin House Secret Wish[191] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Tin House Collection | |
| 2014 | La Nuit de Bohème[192] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Bohème Collection | Jérome Epinette Michel Almairac |
| 2014 | La Nuit de Bohème Eau de Parfum[193] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Bohème Collection | Philippe Romano |
| 2014 | Sui Dreams in Pink[194] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Sui Dreams Collection | Claudette Belnavis |
| 2015 | Romantica[195] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Romantica Collection | Steven DeMercado |
| 2015 | Sui Dreams in Green[196][197] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Sui Dreams Collection | Pierre Negrin |
| 2016 | Sui Dreams in Yellow[198] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Sui Dreams Collection | |
| 2016 | Lucky Wish[199][200] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Secret Wish Collection | Mathieu Nardin |
| 2016 | Romantica Exotica[201] | Inter Parfums | Part of the Romantica Collection | Jerome Epinette |
| 2016 | L'Amour Rose[202] | Inter Parfums | ||
| 2017 | Fantasia[203] | Inter Parfums | ||
| 2017 | L'Amour Rose Versailles Eau de Toilette[204] | Inter Parfums | ||
| 2017 | L'Amour Rose Versailles Eau de Parfum[205] | Inter Parfums |
In 2009, Sui launched Anna Sui Vision with Mondottica Limited for manufacture and distribution ofspectacles andsunglasses as Anna Sui Eyewear.[206]The distribution agreement with Mondottica for eyewear distribution was under the Anna Sui Eyewear brand[206] and launched a collaboration collection with Bliss called Anna Sui for FitFlop.[207][208]In 2012, the designer worked on a collaboration between Mondottica and Fellow Earthlings to produce sunglasses for Sui's fashion shows[209]
In 2016, Sui introduced a contact lens line under the agreement distributed in Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore,South Korea andTaiwan.[210]
Anna Sui Jeans was a bridge line launched in 1994 by the designer and Italian fashion company Gilmar S.P.A. The Italian company was also involved in collaborating on the designer's main Anna Sui line and Sui had been designing and consulting for several Gilmar brands including Cento X Cento together withMarc Jacobs.[211] Around this time, Gilmar also rolled out a jeans line for Christian Lacroix. Sui collaborated on branding for the line with New York artist Michael Economy and the collaboration with Gilmar lasted until 2004.[212][213]
"Anna Sui Mini" debuted in early 2009 in Japan in a partnership withIsetan andNarumiya International with a line for babies, toddlers and children. The line is distributed in Japan through 25 stores, atIsetan andMitsukoshi department stores and through online sales.[214]
The dolly heads that were symbols of Sui's fashion style would later form the inspiration for what would become Dolly Girl.[8] In 2003, Sui released a Dolly Girl perfume, later expanded to an entire fragrance collection with several variations.[42] In 2008, the Dolly Girl by Anna Sui clothing line was formally launched in Japan in partnership withIsetan and Onward Kashiyama to further develop and produce the concept.[1] Sui collaborated with art director Michael Economy on the line's branding elements.[215]
The brand line is sold in over 50 standalone stores throughout Japan and focuses on fashion and fashion accessories. There are typically 3 seasonal collection releases and combined with additional smaller monthly collections.
The brand launched two Winter 2015-16 collections titled "Fantasy Folklore" and "Glitter in the Woods" featuring models Sam Laskey and Julia Belyakova respectively with both collections drawing inspiration fromfairy tales and 70's style folklore.[216][217]
In 2016, Dolly Girl by Anna Sui launched its Summer 2016 collection titled "Colorful Paradise" and a follow-up called "Mexican Dolls." The collections explored the colorful indigenous clothing found in Mexican states such asChiapas and theState of Mexico and included Sui's take on traditional Mexican fashion items such asserapes,rebozos and even traditionalAztechuipils.[218] For the celebration of the designer's 20th anniversary in Japan, Sui released a special edition collection titled "Happy Dolly Girl Land." The collection featuredcarnival-inspired motifs and patterns infused into the clothing design.[219] Late in the year, the Winter 2016-17 collection was released, titled "Into the Night Forest" with inspiration taken fromfairy tales and visuals featuring full-scale layeredpaper models.[220]
Sui by Anna Sui was the designer's second bridge line launched in close proximity with her Jeans line together with Gilmar S.P.A. in 1994. The Sui by Anna Sui line and her jeans line continued under operation after the designer left her designer job at Gilmar's Cento X Cento.[221][222] The line focused on sportswear for men and women with Sui directly controlling branding and design and was distributed globally by Gilmar.[223] Sui relaunched her diffusion line in 2019.[224]
In March 2016, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and its subsidiary Mammina announced the launch of new brand partnership with Anna Sui Corp called The Souvenir Shop Anna Sui[225] which covers travel retail items and fashion accessories.[226] The line is sold in locations throughout Japan including airports, significant because it marks the first time Anna Sui fashion accessories were available asduty-free products and online via Isetan and Mitsukoshi.[225] The collaboration features 70 new stores and boutiques and taps into the travel retail market.[226] Stores launched in downtown areas and at airports marking the first time Anna Sui fashion products were available asduty free goods.[227]
During filming ofConfessions of a Shopaholic in 2008, a faux Anna Sui store was mocked up inside theHearst Tower for themovie set, which also included mock-up stores forValentino,Catherine Malandrino andAlberta Ferretti. The stunt fooled someNew Yorkers into believing an actual store had been opened.[228]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Hi Octane[229] | Herself | (TV series) Episode 1.3 |
| 2008 | Bravo A-List Awards[229] | Herself | (TV special) |
| 2010 | The City[229] | Herself | (TV show) Episode: "Show 'Em What You Got" |
| 2010 | America's Next Top Model[229] | Herself | (TV show) Season 14, episode 11: "America's Next Top Model Is..." |
| 2011 | Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel[229] | Herself | (Documentary) |
| 2012 | Project Runway[229] | Herself | (TV show) Season 10, episode 8: "Starving artist" |
| 2011 | Fashion News Live[229] | Herself | (TV show) Season 15, episode 42 |
| 2013 | Tumi Case Studies[230] | Herself | (Short Series) Episode: "Anna Sui" |
| 2014 | Make It in America: Empowering Global Fashion[229] | Herself | (Documentary) |
| 2017 | Uncensored withMichael Ware: Fashion Week Wars[231][232] | Herself | (TV show) Season 1, episode 2 |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
