Thuy Diep
Encyclopedia
Early life
Born into a family of tailors in Vietnam, Thuy Diep was destined to become a fashion designer. As a child, under the direction of her mother and father who ran a tailoring school and custom-made clothing shop in her native home, Thuy began honing her tailoring skills at an early age. She developed a love for well-crafted clothes and an obsession with high quality fabrics. Moving to the United States in 1981, Thuy was exposed to a whole new world of diverse values and aesthetics—which would shape her stylistic philosophy.Education and career
Thuy's education at Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and early professional career as a Pricewaterhouse consultant laid the groundwork for her creative entrepreneurial-passions. Returning to school—and back to her first love, fashion—she attended Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School for Design
Parsons The New School For Design, known colloquially as Parsons, is the art and design college of The New School university. It is located in New York City's Greenwich Village, and has produced artists and designers such as Marc Jacobs, Dean and Dan Caten, Norman Rockwell, Donna Karan, Jane...
.
After graduating from Parsons, Thuy held diverse jobs in the fashion industry. With Nicolas Caito
Nicolas Caito
Nicolas Caito is a French patternmaker who works in New York City. According to Elle magazine, he is "New York's most in-demand patternmaker" and is often credited with increasing the level of technical craftsmanship in American fashion to a level formerly seen only in Milan and Paris.Caito was...
, a preeminent New York-based Parisian atelier, Thuy provided draping and patternmaking services for high-end designers including Carolina Herrera, Peter Som
Peter Som
Peter Som is an American fashion designer. He describes his aesthetic as one of "effortless elegance and refined sexiness", and aspires to provide a fresh perspective to modern American fashion.- Background :...
and Zac Posen
Zac Posen
- Early life :Posen was raised in the SoHo neighborhood of lower Manhattan, the son of artist Stephen Posen and corporate lawyer Susan Posen. His interest in fashion design started early, and as a child he would steal yarmulkes from his grandparents' synagogue to make ball dresses for dolls...
. This experience would prove to be a fundamental skill that she would later call upon in starting her own line. Following her work at Nicolas Caito
Nicolas Caito
Nicolas Caito is a French patternmaker who works in New York City. According to Elle magazine, he is "New York's most in-demand patternmaker" and is often credited with increasing the level of technical craftsmanship in American fashion to a level formerly seen only in Milan and Paris.Caito was...
, Thuy spent time at New York-based young designer, United Bamboo, working throughout the design process.
Thuy label
In 2006, with the encouragement of virtually everyone, she formed her eponymous label "Thuy", based in the SoHoSoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
neighborhood of lower Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Producing women’s designer ready-to-wear clothing, Thuy has come full circle to her tailoring roots. Calling upon her diverse design, professional and entrepreneurial skills and experience, she has established a unique company. In addition to the design of her Collections, Thuy also emphasizes tailoring as well as business planning and viability, and process and organizational excellence.
In the industry, Thuy is earning a reputation for offering softly structured pieces, crafted from specialty fabrics—inviting the consumer to experience the inspiration behind it. Mixing casual chic with romantic sophistication, Thuy’s designs highlight form, craftsmanship and subtle—yet dramatic—details.
Recent Shows
Thuy Diep’s Fall 2010 collection elegantly combined classic and modern elements. The omnipresent trends of New York Fashion Week Fall 2010 -- layering, metallics, draping, and fur -- reigned supreme at Thuy’s show.Thuy’s Spring/Summer ’09 Collection which was shown at Bryant Park
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a 9.603 acre privately managed public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan...
during New York’s Fashion Week
Fashion Week
A fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know...
paid homage to the luxury of discreet hand crafted, artisan detailing of the past combined with sharp tailoring and a sportswear edge—incorporating movement, asymmetry, trompe-l'œil drapery with streamlined architectural shapes. Thuy also introduced red carpet gowns with the collection, including a gown featured on the 2008 Emmy Red Carpet worn by actress Anastasia Griffith.
At the invitation of the Seoul government—and as the only American designer to do so—Thuy presented an encore presentation of her S/S 09 New York runway show to kick off Seoul Fashion Week in October 2008.