You’re living and designing in New York City.
What was your path to get to the United
States? How did you become involved in
fashion?
Jia Collection features an
array of tops, dresses,
jackets and coats, all of
which can be worn at
least two different ways.
Classic shapes combined with innovative design
are trademarks of Jia Collection I first
discovered Jia last spring and have since worn
her pieces from the beaches of Maui to the
mountains of Switzerland. Amazed by the
craftsmanship, design and versatility of Jia
Collection, I sat down with the designer for a
look inside of her line for the woman on the go.
Growing up in Yunnan, the most biologically,
culturally and ethnically diverse province of
China, I was influenced by the many minority
groups dressed in laboriously crafted costumes.
My foray into the fashion world started early
when I became enamored with the clothing
creations I discovered in the small selection of
fashion magazines at my local bookstore. It was
then that my passion for fashion design came
to life.
In 2000, I obtained a master’s degree in
International Business from the Norwegian
School of Economics and Business
Administration. My master’s thesis, “Value
Creation for Fashion Marketing Firms,” won
top honors among the class.
In 2002, I came to New York to study at
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and
graduated summa cum laude in 2005. After
graduation, I interned and worked at Anna Sui,
Maggie Norris Couture, Macy’s Merchandising
Group and Perry Ellis International. After
Hot Stome, Rock On
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working for other brands for a few years and
seeing a lack of comfortable, chic and versatile
designs, I decided to launch my own collection
designed for modern women who need versatile
fashion designs for work, travel and leisure.
What led you to start Jia Collection? Was it
difficult to take the leap of starting your
own line?
Besides trying to fill a market niche as
mentioned previously, there are few other
reasons. I really dislike that many fashion
brands just copy each other. Many more
innovative fashion products can be designed
and made which provide greater value for a
modern lifestyle. I think that women should
have their own unique style rather than just
following a trend. By giving women designs
that are classic with an edge, they can easily
have the looks they want.
With women living a more fast-paced lifestyle,
they’re attending more events, both socially
and professionally. It can be challenging to
dress stylishly, especially for women who don’t
want to repeat outfits. By offering women
reversible and convertible designs, efficiency is
much improved in women’s daily dressing.