Alumni

Grad's Eyewear Collection Worn by Beyoncé and Gwyneth Paltrow

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, René Chu started her career as a fashion model and the movie wardrobe assistant of Oscar-nominated art director William Chang Suk-Pin. After graduating from the Merchandise Product Development program at FIDM, she launched the eyewear collection, Revé by René, which has fans in Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow, Aimee Song, and fellow alumna Chriselle Lim.

The designer and entrepreneur was recently featured in Hong Kong Tatler magazine where René said she founded her eponymous label in 2013 after feeling defeated by not being able to find sunglasses that inspired her. Revé by René is known for bold shapes and playful detachable parts, from whimsical cat ears to golden vampire fangs and unicorn horns.

The FIDM Graduate’s line is stocked in over 30 influential retailers around the world, including LA’s Just One Eye, Tokyo's Isetan, Seoul’s Boon The Shop, and Puyi Optical in China. “I love sunglasses,” she says. “It’s the only fashion accessory that both reveals and conceals at the same time.” Based in Hong Kong, the brand regularly collaborates with iconic and endearing characters such as The Minions, Peanuts, and Miffy.