Phillip Lim
Designer, 3.1 Phillip Lim
The Chinese-American designer hits a market sweet spot by offering beautifully made, well-designed clothing at a contemporary price point.
Born in Thailand, of Chinese descent, Phillip Lim is a key figure in New York’s wave of Asian-American fashion designers. Together with his business partner Wen Zhou the designer has successfully established his brand, 3.1 Phillip Lim as one of a handful of important, fast-growing contemporary brands, with a thriving wholesale business and six own brand stores in New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, London and Miami.
The son of a seamstress and a professional poker player, Lim believes he learnt more from his father, but remembers directing his mother as she made his clothes. His style has remained unchanged. Lim told New York Magazine, “I look at pictures of myself when I was 5 years old and I think that, yes, that is exactly what I like.”
Lim worked at Barneys in Orange County, which led to him unpacking a box of Katayone Adeli merchandise. Immediately taken, Lim called for an interview with the designer and managed to secure himself an internship.
Lim was initially backed by a surf wear company to create his first line, Development. However, shifting trends led Lim’s backers to cease their financial support. However, Wen Zhou, 3.1 Phillip Lim’s chief executive and co-founder, who was running at the time a successful textiles company that supplied Development, had seen Lim’s designs and “just knew that it was good.”
She sent him a plane ticket for New York and he arrived in the city on a Thursday. By the Friday, Zhou said, “Okay. That’s enough. I’m tired of you crying, let’s start a company.”
The Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Lim the 2007 Award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear. In 2012, he won the Council's Swarovski Award for Menswear and the Award for Accessories Designer of the Year in 2013.
Career History
VITAL STATISTICS
Find out more
The Supima Design Competition Showcases Fashion’s Next Generation at New York Fashion Week
Through partnerships with leading fashion schools across the US and a robust and growing network of alumni, the Supima Design Competition is setting up emerging design talent for success.
The Supima Design Competition Showcases Fashion’s Next Generation at New York Fashion Week
Through partnerships with leading fashion schools across the US and a robust and growing network of alumni, the Supima Design Competition is setting up emerging design talent for success.
Inside BoF and Shop With Google’s New York Fashion Week Dinner
Designers Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson and Brendon Babenzien, together with Steven Kolb, Laurent Claquin, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julie Gilhart, and more, joined BoF’s Imran Amed and Google’s Stephanie Horton.
Inside BoF and Shop With Google’s New York Fashion Week Dinner
Designers Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson and Brendon Babenzien, together with Steven Kolb, Laurent Claquin, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julie Gilhart, and more, joined BoF’s Imran Amed and Google’s Stephanie Horton.
Peter Do’s Helmut Lang to Open New York Fashion Week
Also on the preliminary schedule, Ralph Lauren, Jonathan Cohen and 3.1 Phillip Lim will return to New York Fashion Week.
Peter Do’s Helmut Lang to Open New York Fashion Week
Also on the preliminary schedule, Ralph Lauren, Jonathan Cohen and 3.1 Phillip Lim will return to New York Fashion Week.
#BoFLIVE: Phillip Lim and Prabal Gurung on How to Navigate the Pandemic as an Independent Brand
Independent businesses need to reconsider their five- and ten-year plans, the designers told BoF Founder and Editor-in-Chief Imran Amed.
#BoFLIVE: Phillip Lim and Prabal Gurung on How to Navigate the Pandemic as an Independent Brand
Independent businesses need to reconsider their five- and ten-year plans, the designers told BoF Founder and Editor-in-Chief Imran Amed.
Bloomingdale’s Bid to Keep Covid From Stealing Christmas
At a time when retailers usually try to lure shoppers with festive music and decorations, the luxury department store has amped up its website and — in a very out-of-character move — plans to drive traffic through flash sales.
Bloomingdale’s Bid to Keep Covid From Stealing Christmas
At a time when retailers usually try to lure shoppers with festive music and decorations, the luxury department store has amped up its website and — in a very out-of-character move — plans to drive traffic through flash sales.
#BoFLIVE: Prabal Gurung and Phillip Lim on Fashion Week, Culture and Politics
Those brands that make it through the industry’s implosion will need to find a better, more viable way of doing business. What are some of the solutions?
#BoFLIVE: Prabal Gurung and Phillip Lim on Fashion Week, Culture and Politics
Those brands that make it through the industry’s implosion will need to find a better, more viable way of doing business. What are some of the solutions?
Op-Ed | A Racist Incident at Fashion Week
A racist accusation at Paris Fashion Week was only the tip of the iceberg, recalls Tiffany Reid.
Op-Ed | A Racist Incident at Fashion Week
A racist accusation at Paris Fashion Week was only the tip of the iceberg, recalls Tiffany Reid.
Why Luxury Brands Are Raising Prices in a Pandemic
Top-tier brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton are hiking prices in what looks like a bid to pad margins, cushion the impact of lower sales volumes and capitalise on the China rebound.
Why Luxury Brands Are Raising Prices in a Pandemic
Top-tier brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton are hiking prices in what looks like a bid to pad margins, cushion the impact of lower sales volumes and capitalise on the China rebound.
Vogue and the CFDA Set Up Shop on Amazon
Through the fundraising initiative A Common Thread, 20 independent New York brands will begin selling their collections on the e-commerce marketplace as part of an effort to help struggling designers.
Vogue and the CFDA Set Up Shop on Amazon
Through the fundraising initiative A Common Thread, 20 independent New York brands will begin selling their collections on the e-commerce marketplace as part of an effort to help struggling designers.
Fashion on Lockdown: What's Closed, What's Cancelled
BoF is keeping tabs on the cancellations and closures sweeping the industry as brands, retailers and event producers grapple with how to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fashion on Lockdown: What's Closed, What's Cancelled
BoF is keeping tabs on the cancellations and closures sweeping the industry as brands, retailers and event producers grapple with how to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
