Experience & Creativity

Chi Hu’s specialties include outerwear, suits, dresses, and sportswear.  Her career began after graduating from FIT in 1994 which lead her in the direction of successfully launching and reintroducing a number of collections.  A few of the collections were Heidi Klum casual sportswear with Amazon.com, Drizzle brand for Men’s and Ladies retailing at upscale department stores, and Perry Ellis Men’s rainwear & outerwear line.  Chi Hu also created some collections of her own.  Modern Vintage leather sportswear/outerwear launched with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus,  FutureTribe leather/shearling outerwear collection launched in Bloomingdale’s and specialty stores, and Lalo Leather and Shearling launched with outerwear in Bloomingdale’s and boutique stores….

Why did you choose to be a designer?
CH: To explore the exciting world of form and color.

What steps did you take to become a designer?
CH: Move to NYC and went to Fashion school (FIT).

If you weren’t a designer what would you be?
CH: A concept artist for movie industry.

What sparked your interest in design?
CH: Forms and colors.

Best/Most Challenging part of your job?
CH: Be able to create design for different levels of market.

How did you get started in design?
CH: Grab the very 1st job I was offered as assistant.

What do you like about what you do?
CH: Able to use my experience and creativity to realize my work from sketches to products.

What’s a common misconception people have about what you do?
CH: Designers spent all day sketching new ideas.

How has your work evolved since you began your career?
CH: My creativity can only go as far as it can be produced.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
CH: Designing.

Are there any types of clothing/footwear/accessories that you avoid wearing?
CH: Anything too trendy, or over exposed.

What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work?
CH: Tribal pattern and the meaning behind it. It plays a big part in my work when the market is allowed.

Are there any types of clothing/footwear/accessories that you avoid wearing?
CH: Anything too trendy, or over exposed.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your career?
CH: Behind all the flashy side of the fashion industry, there are hard work and continue learning.

What advice would you give to young designers?
CH: Read the fashion history book again if possible. There are too many things inspired me from the past, and also to know what has been done already.

Are you superstitious or do you have any rules you live by?
CH: There are rules we live by, which make us unique.

Learn more about Chi at StylePortfolios.com

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