Who is Lisa Von Tang?
Lisa is a renowned luxury designer who started her eponymous line at 28 years old. Before she embarked on a successful career in fashion, Lisa was like most other 20-somethings starting their life’s journey. She went to university! There she got a degree in Political Science then worked for an advertising company. From there she opened her own boutique that sold multiple designer brands (although not hers yet).
She decided to start Lisa Von Tang in 2015 because there was a need in the market. Von Tang recognized a lack in ”clear, unapologetic, alpha female energy” in current women’s fashion. So she chose to make a brand that embodies those traits. Drawing from her Chinese heritage mixed with Western influences, Lisa Von Tang (the label) was born.
Sources of Inspiration
The brand is known for Southeast-Asian inspired updated classics. Von Tang’s cheongsam silhouettes are renowned for their use of luxury fabrics and more trendy designs. (Sidebar for those unfamiliar with cheongsam: it’s a form fitting dress with a high neckline, slit on the side and often no sleeves. Sometimes called “the Mandarin gown” in part because of the mandarin collar.) While her Chinese heritage is clear for lines like her cheongsams, Von Tang credits Asia as a whole for the majority of her inspiration.
In fact, the Canada native operates out of Singapore where she’s inspired on a daily basis; she describes the country as a ”nurturing and lush environment” that’s a ”gold mine for inspiration” thanks to the many different cultures that call it home. You can tell by the colorful, richly patterned designs that Von Tang’s muses can’t be pinpointed to one locale.
As evidenced by her choice in headquarters, she draws inspiration from many different sources. Even her own heritage. Born from a Chinese mother and German father, Von Tang has a long history of fashion in her bloodline. That combined with her Burmese, Indonesian and Thai ancestry makes for quite the creative stimulus! While her connection to art, specifically, can be said to have originated from her grandfather who was a Chinese watercolor artist.
Von Tang is a master curator of designs, colors and textures for each collection. Their influence from her own cultural background, Asia as a whole, and her Western upbringing marry together beautifully. With each collection she stays true to making clothing by and for a courageous woman.
Dedication to Ethical Practices
What differentiates Lisa Von Tang’s designs from most others in the luxury fashion game, is their commitment to being responsible. The brand provides high-quality garments that are created with care. It all starts with their manufacturing.
Each factory that produces Lisa Von Tang apparel and accessories is either SEDEX approved or FAMA certified. (SEDEX is an international organization that promotes safe working conditions for factory workers and transparent supply chains. FAMA or Facility and Merchandise Authorization is implemented by Disney to ensure factories honor human rights of workers, they reduce environmental impact of their supply chain and the brand is authorized to use Disney’s intellectual property.)
Image courtesy of unsplash.com
By confirming factories are approved through one or both of these agencies, Lisa Von Tang commits to paying workers equitably, ensuring safety standards and upholding factory workers’ rights. As part of their ethical practices, the brand is staunchly anti fast fashion. They actively work against this business model by producing collections in limited quantities and upcycling their fabrics.
Dedication to Sustainable Practices
Lisa Von Tang is not a fast fashion brand as proven by their ethical standards. The same care and dedication is used when it comes to sustainability. They use organic materials, recycled fabrics and quality business practices with the intent to make sustainable luxury fashion accessible.
Have you ever heard of luxury women’s fashion made out of bananas? How about rose petals? What I’m describing isn’t a fantasy; it’s a Lisa Von Tang creation! Part of their sustainable commitment is to use 100% organic materials in clothing. Hence, vegan designs made entirely from Hemp, rose petals and bananas.
They take their mission further by using overrun production fabrics in 90% of their manufacturing. They’re committed to supporting local textile factories in Singapore and Myanmar as well as other chemical-free suppliers in China, India, Japan and Italy. Textile dyeing is the second largest water polluter in the world. Lisa Von Tang aims not to contribute any toxic materials to that number.
Other than their commitment to quality fabrics, the brand’s business model is poised for sustainability. They produce over 50% of their designs on a made-to-order basis. By doing so, they’re taking action against the wasteful practices rampant in fast fashion. Made-to-order means less inventory lying around which means less amounts of clothing produced that may never be sold which means a reduced environmental impact!
Why Support Lisa Von Tang
Lisa Von Tang’s commitment to high ethical and sustainable standards in fashion is admirable. We need more brands that care how their clothes are produced. We also need more brands that care about the environmental impact clothing manufacturing produces. Lisa Von Tang is a luxury designer that takes action on behalf of both; plus have you seen her clothes?
A Lisa Von Tang piece is distinct. It’s modern, vibrant and sexy. Her line is for fierce, confident women. Each one of her dresses, tops and bottoms match that energy!
Image courtesy of lisavontang.com