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Updated Jun 09, 202513 AAPI Fashion Designers You Should Know
From OGs to emerging talent, we present a dozen designers who are making waves.
Photo: Vera Wang Bride
No wedding Pinterest board is complete without a few inspo pics of gowns from Asian fashion designers. That's because Asian wedding dress designers have been showcasing innovation and creativity in the bridal fashion world for generations. Notable industry icons such as Vera Wang and buzzy newer names like Andrew Kwon have transcended borders and challenged aesthetics while garnering countless accolades along the way. Their talents have even helped define some of the top bridal trends of the year. If you're currently searching for your dream dress, the 13 Asian designers we've rounded up below are definitely worth checking out.
Not all of the names on our list (which is by no means exhaustive) are exclusively wedding dress designers and that choice was intentional given the number of ready-to-wear designers now diving into weddings. Most of these Asian fashion houses also offer bespoke bridal services… because who doesn't want to sport their favorite brand on their big day? If you find a brand that catches your eye, head to The Knot Vendor Marketplace to discover a bridal salon near you where you can try their dresses on in person.
Asian fashion designers to know: Andrew Kwon | Ou Ma | Vera Wang | Sabyasachi Mukherjee | Joseph Altuzarra | Huishan Zhang | Jason Wu | Sandy Liang | Rejina Pyo | Laura Kim | Andrew Gn | Anna Sui | Bibhu Mohapatra
1. Andrew Kwon
Photo: @andrewkwon_official | Instagram
Closing New York Bridal Fashion Week is a big deal and that's what Andrew Kwon did in 2024. Though Kwon started in ready-to-wear, the Korean-American designer pivoted to bridal fashion in 2021, bringing a unique perspective and setting trends by embracing jumpsuits and black dresses when most of the industry was still churning out traditional full-skirted numbers. Newly engaged? Watch this space.
2. Ou Ma
While working as a designer on the Ralph Lauren team, Ou Ma was approached by a friend for help designing a custom wedding gown. This experience ignited her passion for bridal design and led her to start her very own brand. Today, her brand, OUMA, is a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship and conscious creation. Maintaining a zero-waste business is at the forefront of Ma's mission. She transforms leftover pieces of fabric into one-of-a-kind accessories that are gifted to every bride who purchases one of her gowns. Keep an eye out for this up-and-coming brand as you're browsing Anthropologie wedding dresses in-store or online.
3. Vera Wang
A household name that needs no introduction, Wang started out as a competitive figure skater before cutting her teeth at Vogue as an editor under Anna Wintour. Now in her 70s, Wang continues to defy both age and categorization having launched various products, including her namesake bridal and haute couture brand, a prosecco brand and a range of engagement rings in partnership with Zales.
4. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
Photo: @sabyasachiofficial | Instagram
Often it takes an outsider to appreciate what locals take for granted. Not so with Sabyasachi Mukherjee. The Kolkata-born designer is to Indian brides shopping for lehengas (see Priyanka Chopra Jonas) what Vera Wang is to many American brides. Known for his devotion to preserving Indian craft, Sabyasachi's intricately embroidered and beaded ensembles are maximalism at its finest. He's also highly sought after for fine jewelry and now a line of cosmetics which recently launched in partnership with Estee Lauder.
5. Joseph Altuzarra
Photo: Jamie McCarthy / Staff | Getty Images
Perhaps solely responsible for taking tie-dye beyond its hippie roots, Paris-born Joseph Altuzarra's chic, French infusion into American sportswear has garnered him a Woolmark Prize and a CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. Altuzarra's designs effortlessly straddle corporate boardrooms and the red carpet (see above on Ariane DeBose at the Met Gala) and his leather-caged raffia "Watermill" bags are a must-have for summer.
6. Huishan Zhang
Photo: @huishanzhang | Instagram
Having trained in Dior's haute couture atelier, Quingdao, China-born Huishan Zhang is crafting some of the most elevated eveningwear around. While still a student at London's prestigious Central Saint Martins School of Design, Zhang was handpicked by LVMH scion Delphine Arnault to work at the famed French house. Zhang's designs, which feel like vintage couture treasures, have been worn by the likes of Keira Knightley and Anya Taylor-Joy.
7. Jason Wu
Photo: Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images
Jason Wu is nothing if not prolific. In his 41 years, the Taiwan-born designer has lived several lives, having gotten his start as a designer of doll dresses. Perhaps the biggest break for the Parsons grad came in 2009 when First Lady Michelle Obama donned a white Jason Wu evening dress for the inaugural ball. Though eveningwear is a particular forte of Wu's, the NYC-based talent continues to defy categorization with furniture collections and yes, plumbing hardware for Brizo.
8. Sandy Liang
Photo: @sandyliang | Instagram
Born in Queens, Sandy Liang's experience as a Chinese-American in New York City has been a recurring influence on her work. Liang's debut collection was inspired by the styles of Chinatown grandmothers and her first fashion show was held in her family's Chinese restaurant. If you're a to-be-wed looking for something white with a bit of edge, Liang's bridal capsule is not to be missed.
9. Rejina Pyo
Photo: @rejinapyo | Instagram
One of the hottest tickets at London Fashion Week, Rejina Pyo is known for just-left-of-center designs that embrace a subtle femininity. That said, when the Seoul-born designer visited Buckingham Palace for a reception honoring Britain's East and South East Asian communities, she commissioned a traditional hanbok. Most often inspired by art forms, Pyo's designs have been spotted on Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle.
10. Laura Kim
Photo: Peter White / Contributor | Getty Images
A paragon of both design talent and time management, Laura Kim (along with design partner Fernando Garcia) miraculously balances creating collections for two major brands: her own, Monse, and Oscar de la Renta. So whether you're in search of a wedding dress, a ball gown, or something a bit edgier, Seoul-born Kim has got you covered.
11. Andrew Gn
Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor | Getty Images
If you didn't know Andrew Gn's name a year ago, chances are you now do thanks to the emerald green, bejeweled buttoned ensemble that the current Princess of Wales sported at the Trooping the Color celebrations in London. Born in Singapore and educated at Central Saint Martins, Gn recently announced his retirement from fashion so there is sure to be a run on his final collection. Need we mention that Beyonce is also a fan? Get it while you can.
12. Anna Sui
Photo: @annasui | Instagram
It's quite likely that '90s Boho fashion wouldn't ever have existed without Anna Sui but before we get too nostalgic, it's worth noting that the same design DNA is still very much present at the brand, which boasts some of the most loyal devotees around. Among them: supermodel Naomi Campbell and actress Anne Hathaway. In addition to clothing, Sui's beauty and fragrance business is one of the most successful around.
13. Bibhu Mohapatra
Photo: Dia Dipasupil / Staff | Getty Images
What do J.Lo and Mindy Kaling have in common? Both have been spotted in Bibhu Mohapatra's designs on the red carpet. Fascinated by handwork and textiles from a young age, the Odisha, India-born designer has led efforts in his home country to preserve the knowledge of traditional crafts and promote them in his designs wherever possible. If you're in search of a head-turning gown, Bibhu is a no-brainer.
Additional reporting by Sofia Deeb.
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