Chinese American fashion designer Vivienne Hu was presented the Visionary Artist Award by the University of Southern California Pacific Asia Museum recently for her creative contribution to Asia-Pacific cultural exchanges.
Hu is an investment banker turned fashion designer.
Born and raised in China, she had her university education in Europe. And she worked as a financier at a leading investment bank on Wall Street, prior to studying fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York.
In 2012, Hu launched her brand, which has been selected by the Council of Fashion Designers of America as one of the resident brands of New York Fashion Week since 2014.
Her designs blend European elegance and New York street style while incorporating exotic Asian elements. At the heart of her design philosophy is the spirit of the independent woman, displaying both femininity and individuality.
Last year, Hu presented a collection that was inspired by murals in the Mogao grottoes in Dunhuang, a 1,600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northwest China's Gansu province.
The designs captured the essence of timeless art through rich amber, indigo, green and cinnabar tones that feature on the walls of the cave, and embrace the synthesis of expertly layered silk garments and distinctly cut knits, with tailored wool outer layers lined with furs.
The looks won instant praise and remain among her most well-received designs to date.
"We are delighted to present Vivienne Hu for her creative contributions to furthering Asian design, fashion and arts," said Selma Holo, interim director at the USC Pacific Asia Museum, at the Gala in Pasadena, California.
Hu says Chinese culture is an essential element in her design.
"It is an honor to represent my culture and my roots through my design," she says.
Hu says she has had exchanges and worked with Chinese partners in recent years, and shared her ideas with Chinese fashion designers.
Hundreds of art lovers, donors and collectors attended the annual gala. Established in 1971, the USC Pacific Asia Museum is one of a few US institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands.
The museum's mission is to further intercultural understanding through the arts of Asia and the Pacific Islands.