Alumni

Grad Thai Nguyen Stars on Netflix's Say I Do

Netflix’s new reality show, Say I Do, features eight different real-life couples who overcome obstacles to celebrate their love in surprise dream weddings designed by interior designer Jeremiah Brent, chef Gabriele Bertaccini, and celebrity fashion designer Thai Nguyen, a graduate of FIDM’s Fashion Design program. The feel-good series and its affable hosts-slash-experts have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and People.

Thai was raised around fashion in South Vietnam where his parents owned a private sewing school. He quickly fell in love with design, and after his family immigrated to the U.S. in 1993, Thai earned his degree from FIDM and went on to work as an associate designer at BCBG Max Azria.

In 2008, he and his business partner, Helen Nguyen, launched Thai Nguyen Atelier in Orange County, California. Since then, celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Laverne Cox, Ariana Grande, Ali Wong, and Katy Perry have worn Thai's custom designs, and his work has appeared in Vanity Fair and Vogue Italia, among other publications.

Say I Do marks a return to television for Thai, who was a contestant on Bravo’s fashion competition show, Launch My Line. He also designed original outfits for RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In his new series, Thai creates one-of-a-kind outfits and bridal dresses for the show’s deserving couples. 

"Celebrities are wearing my designs on the red carpet, but there is something powerful when the bride puts on the wedding gown," Thai told People. "It's just pure magic." 

Learn more at tnatelier.com and keep up with Thai on Instagram @thainguyenatelier.

Categories:  Fashion Design Alumni