Thuy Diep (born in Vietnam) is an American fashion designer.
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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.
Thuy's education at Brown University 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.
After graduating from Parsons, Thuy held diverse jobs in the fashion industry. With Nicolas Caito, a preeminent New York-based Parisian atelier, Thuy provided draping and patternmaking services for high-end designers including Carolina Herrera, Peter Som and Zac Posen. 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, Thuy spent time at New York-based young designer, United Bamboo, working throughout the design process.
In 2006, with the encouragement of virtually everyone, she formed her eponymous label "Thuy", based in the SoHo neighborhood of lower Manhattan. 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.
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 during New York’s Fashion Week 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.