From

Stylemakers

(ELLE.com)—ELLE.com highlights influential designer Vivienne Tam.

Vivienne Tam
Designer Vivienne Tam blends contemporary flair with traditional Chinese elements to create her sexy, East-meets-West signature style. Tam, known for her stretchy mesh prints of dragons, peonies and buddhas, entered the fashion scene in 1982 with her first collection under the East Wind Code label.

In 1994, Tam's signature collection was first seen on New York runways, followed a year later by her controversial "Mao" collection for spring 1995. This collection, which can be seen in the Andy Warhol museum in Pittsburgh and the Museum of FIT in New York, included prints of Chairman Mao Tse-tung with a bee perched on his nose. Tam credits Mao as a style tsar who, although he was anti-fashion, led China's fashion revolution.

Spiritual Inspiration
Since style is spiritual to Tam, her goal has been to make the buddha image more accessible and to bring it to the forefront of fashion. One of her best-selling prints features the buddhist Goddess of Mercy.

Hailed as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 1995, Tam has also made a name for herself among Hollywood's rich and famous. Julia Roberts, Madonna and Britney Spears are only a few of the celebrities who have been spotted wearing Tam's designs.

Photos courtesy of the Designer and Java Photo Agency

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