The document provides background information on the fashion designer tu-anh. It describes how tu-anh launched her elegant yet playful fashion collection in 2000 which received attention from major fashion publications. It also notes that tu-anh supports various charitable causes. The document then describes tu-anh's childhood interest in fashion and her difficult upbringing in Vietnam, before immigrating to the US without knowing English. It outlines her career in the fashion industry, working for other designers before founding her own label tu-anh, drawing inspiration from her heritage.

1. Intelligence. Feminity.
Designers & Couture
Sex Appeal. Sophistication.
Launched in 2000, tu-anh’s elegant yet playful collection attracted
immediate national attention from leading fashion publications such
as InStyle, Glamour, Women’s Wear Daily, Lucky, Seventeen and
Cosmo Girl as well as “The Today Show”, “HGTV”, “NBC”, New York
Magazine, The Washington Post, Capitol File, Washingtonian and
more. Active in the community, tu-anh supports education, children,
women and animal causes and mentors numerous aspiring young
designers around the globe.
t u-anh’s first foray into fashion began at six years
old from an embroidery lesson. Attracted to or-
nate and colorful beadings, she displayed a natural
flair for style and quickly graduated to sewing and
embroidering clothing by the time she was eight.
Years later, tu-anh’s sophisticated and feminine
aesthetic can still be traced back to her childhood.
Born towards the end of the Vietnam War,
tu-anh—the eldest daughter of seven children—
endured a difficult upbringing during the war-torn
era. After the fall of Saigon, her father and older
brothers escaped to the U.S., leaving her mother,
two younger sisters and tu-anh behind. Her mother,
a leading figure who helped refugees escape from
the Communists, worked many long hours. There-
fore, tu-anh took on the maternal role for her sisters
where she learned invaluable life lessons. tu-anh
also witnessed her mother’s knack for survival,
quick wit, resourcefulness and an emphasis on
polished image and manners left a lasting impres-
sion and had profoundly influenced her present
style and grace.
After several attempts to escape Vietnam, tu-
anh, her mother and sisters finally reunited with her
father and brothers in the US. Speaking no English the fashion industry while also selling her own
and with no prior schooling, tu-anh‘s first formal couture work on the side. She worked as a
education began at age ten. Although it was difficult professional make-up artist for Prescriptives,
grasping the new language and culture, she found Shiseido and Stila, while also jump-starting
escape in her creativity. She outfitted herself and her design career working for established
her sisters with girly, fitted frocks refashioned from companies—Adrienne Vittadini, Arnold Scaasi
oversized, church donation dresses, flea market and NYC-based ad agency, Admerasia.
finds and yard sales. The ability to express herself On her initial return to Vietnam in 1997,
with style gave tu-anh confidence—and, she soon deeply moved and inspired by the elegance
discovered—a great way to make new friends at and exotic beauty of Vietnamese culture, the
school through her stylish outfits. tu-anh label was born.
By the time tu-anh reached 16, she had already Tu-anh resides in Alexandria, Virginia.
gained real-world experience from interning and Other than being the artistic force for tu-anh
working behind the scenes at photo-shoots and accessories, she also manages her creative
fashion shows for established names such as consulting business, polished by tu-anh; pro-
Vogue, Glamour, Seventeen, Perry Ellis, Todd ducing fashion shows, styling special events,
Oldham and Anna Sui. and leading beauty and image seminars.
Upon graduating from The Fashion Institute of
Technology in NYC, tu-anh spent years working in
www.tu-anh.com
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