Anna Sui's uniqueness lies in the ability to combine work and personal passions. Her creations are intricate "pastiche" of vintage eras, skilfully mixed with music and popular culture, from Portobello from the 60s to downtown rockers and B-Boys.
Her love for fashion dates back to childhood, when, in a quiet neighborhood in Detroit, Anna Sui spends her days dressing her dolls and composing her "genius files", a collection of clippings from newspapers and magazines that represents also today a precious source of inspiration and reference for the designer.
In 1972 she started to study at the Parsons School of Design in New York, where she became a recurring presence on underground punk scene and where she met the photographer Steven Meisel, collaborator and longtime friend.
Anna Sui then spent the rest of the '70s working as a designer for a number of sportswear companies. In 1980, presented a collection of six leaders at the Boutique Show, after which she received an immediate order from Macy's.
The real debut on the catwalk dates back to 1991 when, with a collection inspired and dedicated to his heroine Coco Chanel, wins the general applause of the critics. At the beginning of the '90s, her consciously maximalist look helped to pave the way for designers, like Marc Jacobs, provoking a revival in the fashion world of New York.
The "Boho-Chic" style by Anna Sui translates into a clever mix between the cosmopolitan extravagance of New York and the classic Japanese geisha style.
Anna Sui has always reflected the spirit of the grunge era and today her creations have been enriched including denim, sportswear, footwear and accessories.
In addition, cosmetics and fragrances have contributed to the affirmation of the brand. Her main line is followed by other brands: Dolly Girl by Anna Sui for girls, launched in 2007, and Anna Sui Mini for girls, in 2009.