425 Business Magazine's Most Influential: 2022
Luly Yang’s mission is to elevate the human experience through innovative designs. Yang’s curiosity and creativity have led her to create a successful couture brand. This Taiwanese-American fashion designer and creative director will undoubtedly continue to create stunning and intentional designs for years to come.
Yang’s love for design started at a young age. She recalls being in elementary school, sketching and drawing dresses, not knowing what fashion was at the time.
It wasn’t until 1999 that Yang created her signature Monarch Butterfly gown — made from paper — for a fashion show benefiting the Art with Heart Foundation. Reawakening her love for fashion, Yang made the switch from graphic designer to fashion designer. Her iconic gown was the catalyst of her career.
Yang opened her fashion business in 2000 and grew organically without partners. It was all word of mouth, until three years later, when Yang moved her brand from a third-floor office to the Fairmont Hotel. Business took off, and the community saw Luly Yang Couture in a bigger way.
“For me, the (No. 1 reward) is creating great human experiences,” she said. “Great design is not only about aesthetics and beauty, it’s also about purpose and function. Providing innovative solutions that are thoughtful, intentional, and meaningful. That’s where I find joy.”
Yang’s success has led her to create multifaceted operations that include Luly Yang Couture in Seattle, where clients can find couture red carpet evening wear, bridal, and bespoke suiting; Luly Yang Design Group in Kirkland, which designs and manufactures custom branded corporate uniforms; and, as of 2022, her newest line, Luleisure, which includes stylish transitional pieces.
In 2016, Yang was selected to redesign Alaska Airlines’ uniforms, which won the North American Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors Image of the Year award. She also was commissioned by Amazon to design and produce uniforms for Amazon delivery service providers, Amazon air associates, and pilots. Throughout her career, Yang has received many awards and much recognition, including a Nellie Cashman Woman Business Owner of the Year award, nine International Design Awards (IDA) in 2021, four Muse Design Awards, and the coveted Red Dot international product design award in 2022. Luly also was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame.
As for the future, Yang said more is to come, but it feels like it’s “just the beginning.” — SQ
Link to original article in 425 Business Magazine
