Anna Sui Perfume

Anna Sui is a successful American fashion designer with 509 boutiques in 26 countries, including 200 in Japan alone. Her collection is also sold in 5,000 partner store worldwide.

Born to Chinese immigrant parents, Sui exhibited an interest in fashion from an early age, dressing up her dolls and pretending they were attending the Oscars. She also enjoyed taking clippings from fashion magazines for inspiration for her own designs, calling these her “genius files”.

Whilst at high school Sui received a scholarship to attend New York’s prestigious Parson’s School of Design, where she became close friends with Steven Meisel, who is widely recognised as the fashion industry’s leading photographer.

After leaving Parson’s, she began her career working for junior sportswear companies. In 1980 she presented six original pieces at the Boutique show and received an order from Macy’s, who featured one of these designs in an ad for the New York Times. Later that year, Sui launched her own business, which she ran from her apartment throughout the decade.

It was in 1991 that she launched her own runway show, featuring her signature “head-to-toe” look, proclaimed by the New York Times as a “pastiche of hip and haute styles”. In the same year she moved her business and showroom to its current location in the Garment District.

The following year she opened her first boutique shop selling a personal clothing line, at 113 Greene Street in New York’s Soho District. With its purple walls and red floors the shop’s interior reflects Sui’s distinctive taste for pairing flea market furniture with dolly mannequin heads. Only a year later, in 1993, Anna Sui won the CFDA Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent.

Sui’s first freestanding boutiques in Asia opened in Tokyo, in May 1997, shortly followed by the second in Osaka that autumn. Very soon these popular stores had increased their number to 200, in different locations all over Japan. The main license for the Japanese women’s collection was attained by Isetan Company Limited, and its subsidiary, Mammina, is the distributor to department and speciality stores there. Through this partner, Anna Sui Corp has become one of Japan’s top luxury fashion brands.

Also in 1997, Anna Sui Shoes premiered on the runway for the Fall Collection. This shoe collection consists of both evening and day styles and was manufactured by Ballin in Venice. Styles include velvet, silk, snake and lizard skin.

In 1998 Sui’s Los Angeles boutique opened in Sunset Plaza, Hollywood. She also made headway with the international markets as boutiques opened in other Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

Meanwhile, in October of 1997 that Sui signed a fragrance licensing deal with Wella AG of Germany to develop a signature fragrance. In a three-sided agreement, Wella shares the Anna Sui beauty business with Albion, a Japanese cosmetics maker, who holds the Anna Sui colour cosmetics and skin care license. In accordance with the agreements, Wella produces and markets the Anna Sui fragrances, whist Albion introduces the Anna Sui colour collection to Japan as well as the wider Asian market. Wella sells the fragrances to Albion who distribute them inside Japan, and Albion sells the colour cosmetics to Wella for distribution outside Japan.

The second Sui fragrance Sui Dreams, was launched worldwide for fall 2000. Anna Sui’s fragrance line has since expanded to include Sui Love, Dolly Girl and recently Secret Wish, in association with Victoria’s Secret.

The brand has grown primarily in the Asian market, yet over the last decade contracts in conjunction with partner stores have developed the brand in over 5,000 locations across 70 different countries. Due to astonishing sales growth, the corporation has been enabled to construct over 509 boutiques in 26 nations, as well as dozens in the planning stage, in both East Asia and Western Europe.

In 2006, Fortune Magazine, in their February 4 issue, estimated the net worth of Anna Sui’s fashion empire at over $400 million dollars.

The New York Times hails Anna Sui as a designer who “never panders”. Time Magazine lists her in their list of this decades top five fashion icons. In her New York headquarters, Anna Sui continues to design and manufacture her signature collection, fighting to keep the fashion industry alive in the now-fading Garment District.

Her designs attract many star clients, such as Patricia Arquette, Cher, Christina Ricci, Liv Tyler and Courtney Love. She also provided the costume designs for Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo.

In 2005, she was contracted by Samsung Electronics Co. in conjunction with Vogue, to design a limited edition mobile phone. The Samsung e315 comes in Sui’s signature purple and black, with a butterfly charm. Says Sui, “The woman who carries my phone is ultra feminie with a rock and roll edge. She’s known for her originality.”

A limited edition Anna Sui Boho Barbie was launched with Mattel in 2006.

Anna Sui’s signature collection is known for its high fashion edge with a vintage sensibility; a jacket will cost you in the region of $300 - $800, a dress $200 - $500. Anna Sui is known for her commitment to the things that move her. Her devotion to rock and roll makes her clothes perfect for a rock and roll superstar, and her runway soundtrack is one of the most anticipated each season. Her love for shopping has made her an authority on the best shopping in every city. Following her own inspiration, Anna Sui continues to inspire. She is living her dream.