Zang Toi: Fashion Forward

Surrounded by soft cashmere and glorious silks, fashion designer Zang Toi sorts through his Fall 2012 runway collection during a recent trunk show at Saks Fifth Avenue at the Biltmore Fashion Park. Dressed in all black and his customary kilt, Toi was cool and crisp despite the warm morning. His radiant smile lighting up against the backdrop of the brilliant red silk gowns, inky black pant suits and creamy white dresses that make up his straightforward color palette for the fall season.

“I never take shortcuts,” he says as he points out the hand finished hems of a sublime, silk lined, charcoal grey cashmere jacket, his logo delicately crafted inside, further proof of his commitment to excellence. Usually only couture has that kind of hand finishing and attention to the smallest detail. Passionate about his fashion and work, Toi gave his full attention to a zebra-like patterned jacket, which wasn’t really part of the collection. The jacket was supposed to be just an accessory to add to the show, he says. A friend of his makes designer upholstery fabrics, and Toi thought this particular pattern would be fun to use, plus it would help his friend with exposure; ironically he has now sold three of the jackets.

He may seem a bit avant-garde to some, both in personal style and fashion designs; however, his figure-conscious feminine designs are in line with the new power look for career women. Pleats, draped shawl collars, embellished embroidery and bright prints are now acceptable office attire. Toi says his fashions fit as easily into the working woman’s wardrobe as the mom on the go. He suggests his impeccably tailored, powerful yet feminine, trouser suit for the career woman and the uber chic, affordable bamboo tee and velvet leggings for the busy mom.

Well known in the fashion world, Toi started his career over 20 years ago. He left his home in a small village in Malaysia at the age of 18, and a year later, ended up in New York where he attended the Parsons School of Design and apprenticed with Mary Jane Marcasiano and Ronaldus Shamask.

Knowing very little English when he arrived didn’t stop his determination to succeed. He opened his own atelier in 1989 with a modest collection of bright sarongs, suits and dresses suited for royalty. In 1990 he was featured in the March issue of “Vogue” and championed by then editor-in-chief, Ann Wintour.

“I want to make beautiful clothes for women so they feel good.” – Zang Toi

Text recovered from the printed pages; the scan below is the edition of record.

The printed page

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