Zang Toi Unveils Jet-Set NYFW Collection
Designer Zang Toi unveiled his "Grand Galactic Galaxy" collection at New York Fashion Week. The couture line is inspired by a jet-set lifestyle, designed for an elite clientele that values both comfort and spectacle in their travel-centric wardrobes. The show was a notable event for its focus on glamorous, travel-inspired fashion.
- Zang Toi, born in a small village in Malaysia, moved to New York at 20 to attend Parsons School of Design. He launched his own label in August 1989, and just months later was featured by Anna Wintour in *Vogue*, which helped put him on the fashion map. - The designer is known for his elegant and timeless style, with impeccably constructed garments made from luxurious materials. His client list has included celebrities like Sharon Stone, Elizabeth Taylor, and Patti LaBelle, as well as philanthropists such as Melinda Gates and members of the Saudi royal family. - Toi's business operates on a lean model with a small team of 17 people handling everything from design to production in his New York atelier. His couture evening gowns have started at $13,000, with some pieces reaching as high as $38,000, while also offering ready-to-wear pieces in the $1,800 to $2,300 range. - A consistent theme in Toi's collections is drawing inspiration from his travels and favorite cities, such as Paris. His Fall/Winter 2020 collection, for example, was an ode to New York City, incorporating architectural icons into the designs. - In 1997, Zang Toi was awarded the title of "Datuk," a knighthood, by the Sultan of Kelantan, his home state in Malaysia. He was also named an "Icon of Malaysia" by the country's Prime Minister in 2016. - Beyond fashion, Toi is a significant philanthropist, having raised over $700,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation (now the Livestrong Foundation) to support cancer research.
