Alumni

Thai Nguyen Dresses Stars Like Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry

Vietnamese fashion designer and FIDM Grad, Thai Nguyen, creates custom, handmade designs for a celebrity clientele.

Born in South Vietnam, where his parents owned a private sewing school, Thai learned to sew at age nine. When he and his family immigrated to America in 1993, Thai's parents hoped he would choose a different career path since they knew the stress and demands of the fashion industry. Undeterred, he continued his childhood passion, and studied Fashion Design at FIDM.

After graduating from FIDM in 2002, Thai became an associate designer for BCBG Max Azria. A couple of years later, he struck out on his own and began creating custom designs for prominent Vietnamese productions and artists. He was a designer on Netflix reality series, Say I Do, a finalist on Bravo's fashion competition series, Launch My Line, and contributed to RuPaul's Drag Race. 

Thai’s designs graced the red carpets of the Oscars, Grammy Awards, and Met Gala and his gowns appeared in Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, and New Beauty. "I always try to create designs that impart class with a touch of sexiness," Thai has said. "I am eternally inspired by the ao dai. While it is quite conservative in that it covers up most of the body, it also shows every curve."

With fans including Jennifer Lopez, Cindy Crawford, Kristen Bell, Leona Lewis, Laverne Cox, Kate Beckinsale, Samira Wiley, LaLa Anthony, and Katy Perry, Thai's star continues to ride both on and off the red carpet. In 2018, the Los Angeles Times named Thai as one of the red carpet's "10 fresh, standout players." His atelier in Orange County, California offers clients one-of-a-kind couture services, including private one-on-one consultations with the designer. 

When asked who his heroes, Thai once said: "My parents who gave up everything in Vietnam and built a life from scratch so I can have a better future in the U.S."

Keep up with Thai Nguyen at tnatelier.com and on Instagram @thainguyenatelier.

Categories:  Fashion Design Alumni