FEATURED DESIGNER :
Phillip Lim debuted his eponymous collection, 3.I
phillip lim, in the fall of 2005 to instant success,
both critically and
commercially. Now in its third year, the line is
available in over 250 boutiques and department
stores nationwide, and
represented in 26 countries worldwide. An
inaugural presentation of the fall collection kicked
off New York Fashion
Week with glowing reviews. Widespread
recognition and declaration of Lims talent
quickly
followed. In January 2006,
Fashion Group International awarded Lim first
place in the Women's Designer "Rising Star"
category. Then following in
July, the Council of Fashion Designers of America
and Vogue magazine nominated Lim as a finalist
for the prestigious
2006 Fashion Fund Award. Then the following
year proved to be a time of even deeper
significance. 2007 brought the
introduction of both menswear and kid by phillip
lim, the pint size version of his signature women's
collection, and
marked Lim with the honor of receiving the CFDA
Swarovski Award for emerging talent in
womenswear, his recognition
as a finalist for the Fashion Design Award of
Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and
being chosen as a runner-up
for the 2007 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.
Then in June, the first free standing 3.I phillip lim
store opened on Mercer
Street in New York City. The store, which carries
the men's, women's, kid's and accessories
collections, established a
foundation for plans of retail expansion both
abroad, beginning with an April 2008 Tokyo store
opening, and
domestically, with a Los Angeles, California, store
opening in June 2008.
As for his background, one might say, fashion
found Lim. While studying finance at California
State University of Long
Beach, it became evident that Lim was sitting in
the wrong classroom. A switch in majors led to
an internship at
Katayone Adeli, which led to a full time job as
design assistant. Lim parted ways with Katayone
Adeli after assisting her
for over a year and a half. Soon after he met his
future partners, and quickly became co-founder
and head designer of
the label Development. After four years at
Development, Lim, 31, departed to launch his most
personal collection to
date with business partner and friend, Wen Zhou,
also 31. This meant switching coasts to New
York, where he now works
and resides.
3.l phillip lim's raison d'etre is making beautiful
clothes with added touches of madness, striving
towards the
imperfection. The result is a creation of individual
looks that are unexpected, unplanned, but
completely relevant.
Accordingly, Lim says, 3.I is about clothes that
refine instead of define. A refinement that's a bit
classic in attitude, but
imparts a sense of individual style, without looking
or feeling forced. Confident, unidentifiable, chic
and most of all
effortless."
For Lim, the design process begins by absorbing
shapes, colors, and textures from his
surroundings and personal
experiences and mixing them with luxurious
fabrics and thoughtful nuances. The fabrics
include tissue weight
cashmeres, laundered cottons, washed silks and
brushed wools. Additional richness and life is
added to the 3.I
aesthetic through a complete range of
accessories, including shoes, boots, belts, bags
and seasonal signature
accessories. Understated, cool, and polished, Lim
continues to redefine the rules of fashion.
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