Fashion is always political, and if we look at the political state of our nation right now, things might seem pretty disheartening. However, we cannot ignore the fact that this country was built and founded by immigrants. We are a nation of so many different backgrounds, ethnicities, and races. We are a nation of people who speak different languages, who practice different religions, and who have new perspectives and ideas. Diversity is a beautiful thing that should be celebrated, not punished. Let’s take this time to highlight immigrants who have shaped the fashion industry.

Oscar de la Renta

Oscar de la Renta is a Dominican-born designer universally recognized and respected as one of the best designers in the industry. He launched his first line in 1965, and has had his work worn by some of the most famous women alive, like Gisele Bundchen, Ann Hathaway, Liv Tyler, and even Jackie Kennedy. He credits the beauty of his island as one of the biggest inspirations for his work.

Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg is a Belgian fashion designer who moved to New York with her first husband in 1969. She began her fashion label DvF in 1970 with a desire to become someone outside of her relationship with her then husband, Prince Egon zu Fürstenberg, the German elder son of Prince Tassilo zu Fürstenberg. She is known for creating the wrap dress in 1972, having sold 4 million of them by 1988.

Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung self-identifies as a cultural nomad, having been born in Singapore, then moved to Nepal, India, Australia, London, and finally the United States. He is a very proud immigrant and American, making clothing like his “I am an immigrant” shirt in his Fall/Winter show in 2007. He draws inspiration from his experiences as a ‘nomad’ and incorporates his global identity into his art.

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim was of Chinese descent but born in Thailand. Lim was the son of a seamstress who knew from a young age that he was interested in fashion design, often advising his mother about her own sewing. He went on to establish his own brand, winning multiple awards for his excellence in fashion.

Anna Wintour

*Picture from Instagram (@wintourworld)*

Anna Wintour was born in London and came to the United States after getting a job as a junior fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar. In 1988, she landed the position of Editor-in-Chief of American Vogue, where she worked for 37 years before stepping down. She revolutionized the company by incorporating celebrities into the world of fashion.

Naeem Khan

*Picture from Instagram (@naaemkhannyc)*

Naeem Khan was born in India and left for the United States in 1979. Khan has always expressed his deep love for America and how welcome he felt when moving here. He started out by working with incredible artists like Warhol, Martha Graham, and Halston before launching his own fashion brand. He has repeatedly said that immigrants are the backbone of the fashion industry, and he is proud to be one of those individuals.

Carolina Herrera

Carolina Herrera is a Venezuelan-born designer. She moved to New York, originally working as a publicist, then started her fashion label in 1981. From then, she went on to dress many famous clients, like Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama.

Recho Omondi

Recho Omondi isn’t an immigrant, but is the daughter of immigrant parents from Kenya. She is very outspoken about how important immigrants are to the fashion industry. She began her education in pre-med before switching gears completely. She started her own company in February of 2015, deciding to cast only black women.

Sachin & Babi Ahluwalia

Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia are a husband and wife team, both originally from India. They met while studying at FIT and worked with many incredible designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Manolo Blahnik before breaking off and starting their own fashion brand.

Jason Wu

Jason Wu was born in Taiwan but spent his childhood in Canada before attending university in the United States. He started his career in fashion at the age of 23. By 26, he had gained traction as a designer by dressing Michelle Obama in his own designs for both inaugurations.

Joseph Altuzarra

Joseph Altuzarra was born and raised in Paris by his Chinese-American mother and French father. He originally studied ballet and art history at Swarthmore College before transitioning his talents into the fashion industry. He started out working for Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler before starting an apprenticeship with a patternmaker. He launched his line in 2008.

Stories of Immigrants in Fashion