I knew since the age of four that I wanted to be a clothing designer. I read an article in LIFE magazine about two young ladies that graduated from Parsons School of Design, and when they graduated they went to Paris and Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor opened a boutique for them. So I thought, "Oh, I just have to go to Parsons, that's all."

Anna Sui

Categorized in : School Age Design

Every time that I wanted to give up, if I saw an interesting textile, print what ever, suddenly I would see a collection.

textiles giving-up interesting

You have to focus on your dreams, even if they go beyond common s... by Anna Sui

You have to focus on your dreams, even if they go beyond common sense.

common-sense focus dream

To me, fashion is like a mirror. It's a reflection of the times. And if it doesn't reflect the times, it's not fashion. Because people aren't gonna be wearing it.

fashion mirrors reflection

I think that fashion has become such a big business and with globalization we are on new territory at this point. We are not just designing for a country we are designing for a world now.

fashion country thinking

What people look to me for is a whole look. People come to me for icing on the cake, not a basic stretch pant.

cake people looks

The sexiest thing about a bikini is that it leaves something to the imagination, which is the best part.

sexiest bikinis imagination

A piece of fabric can get me going. by Anna Sui

A piece of fabric can get me going.

fabric pieces

You just pray that something is going to hit you like lightning. Like a movie, a book, or a photograph, a painting, something that you can riff on it and learn more about it and explore it, and just go on a journey with it. So lots of times when I choose a theme, I'll also incorporate other things that I'm doing at that period.

painting journey book

The red library is Sui's tribute to fashion maven Diana Vreeland, who served as editor for Harper's Bazaar (1939-1962) and Vogue (1963-1961). My most precious collection is my bound Vogue magazines, .. and they're kind of like my Bible. I look at them all the time when I'm trying to inspire myself for a collection.

vogue-magazine fashion bible

I think I'm a global citizen. My parents came from China, were educated in France and emigrated to the United States. And I think that opened up my mind to be able to live and work anywhere.

parent mind thinking

To me if you're going have a show, it should be a show. It should be entertaining and take you on a journey.

journey should shows

I think you have to be in the right place at the right time. And understand that and know when it is your time and how you react to it and how you respond to it.

right-place right-time thinking

I don't have the luxury of making clothes just to make an effect. It can't be something totally frivolous, because my distributors have to have a successful season, too.

luxury clothes successful

Well, my whole thing is that I'm kind of like a show-off! by Anna Sui

Well, my whole thing is that I'm kind of like a show-off!

wells kind shows

I’m always about optimism and exuberance. It’s what I feel about... by Anna Sui

I’m always about optimism and exuberance. It’s what I feel about fashion.

optimism fashion feels

When punk really started to happen, it was a reaction against the... by Anna Sui

When punk really started to happen, it was a reaction against the disco craze of the time.

craze reactions punk

When I look at designer books I am sometimes puzzled why they don't share their inspiration, when it's obvious somebody had such great inspiration.

inspiration book looks

Longing and desire goes further than instant satisfaction. That's... by Anna Sui

Longing and desire goes further than instant satisfaction. That's human nature.

longing satisfaction desire

You still get the sheer quality coming through but you're covered... by Anna Sui

You still get the sheer quality coming through but you're covered.

covered quality stills

Love this in the film, “Velvet Goldmine” it captures the excitement and the thrill at the moment of discovery!

thrill velvet discovery