Three Top Asian Designers Who Work Globally

The term “Asian” as a descriptor falls short of capturing the diversity of nationalities, ethnicities, cultures, and even personal style found within it. We must be actively anti-racist, and the simplest way for fashion lovers to do so is to learn about and shop from this group. We’ve selected a few designers from the United States and overseas who represent the complete spectrum of fashion design, as well as humanity.

Yohji Yamamoto****

Yohji Yamamoto is a Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. Considered a master tailor, he is known for his avant-garde tailoring featuring Japanese design aesthetics. He has won notable awards for his contributions to fashion, including the Chevalier/Officier/Commandeur of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon. Yamamoto creates beyond trends or seasonality, favoring pure artistic expression. Using black as the sole color for his designs, he plays with the sensuality of fabrics, allowing them to take shape as they please. He’s even been compared to legendary French designer Madeleine Vionnet. In 2007, Yohji Yamamoto Inc. reported that yearly sales of Yamamoto’s two main lines averaged more than $100 million.

kanika goyal of kanika goyal label****

Kanika Goyal was the first in her family to break out of conventional career choices. Graduated in accessory design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) She fine-tuned her training in garments and couture at the Parsons School of Design in New York. Her first collection was out in October 2013 and she launched her label in 2014. Since then, several Bollywood A-listers, including Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Anushka Sharma, have appeared in her creations. The Delhi-based designer interned for Bibhu Mohapatra and partnered with Adidas Originals. She was just included in Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 list in 2019. Leading a team of 15, Goyal’s label includes womenswear, menswear, and a diffusion line. Currently retailing through 12 stores in India, three in the UAE, and her website, she is looking to venture into the US market this year.

Ritu Kumar****

Ritu Kumar is an Indian designer. In her carrier, she went on to accept a scholarship at Briarcliff College in New York, where she studied Art History. On returning to India, she studied museology at the Asutosh Museum of Indian Art, part of the University of Calcutta. Her son is Oscar-nominated director, Ashvin Kumar. Kumar began her fashion business in Kolkata, using two small tables and hand-block printing techniques. Beginning with bridal wear and evening clothes in the 1960s and 70s, she eventually moved into the international market in the subsequent two decades.  As well as shops in India, Kumar’s company has also opened branches in Paris, London, and New York. The London branch closed after three years, in 1999. Her company’s annual turnover at the time was the highest of any Indian fashion outlet, estimated at around 10 billion.