14 May 2024 |
The co-founder and CEO of 3.1, Phillip Lim, received the Angela Chao Legacy Award.
In 2021, during the height of the Covid pandemic and anti-Asian American sentiment, the Asian American Foundation was established. Created with the goal of promoting anti-racism as well as providing resources for small businesses, the organization makes it a point to celebrate outstanding individuals in the community annually. At this year’s dinner at TAAF, 3.1 Phillip Lim’s co-founder Wen Zhou won the Angela Chao Legacy Award for her exceptional and notable contributions, honoring her lifetime of service and aid to her community.
After moving to the United States at 13 years old, Zhou stepped into the garment industry business and got busy spending her time at a factory after school. This early experience pushed her to want to create her own company and by 21, she was successfully selling fabrics to big design houses and independent designers. Through that work, she met Phillip Lim, a new and upcoming designer at the time, and as they say, the rest is history. Lim and Zou formed a quick friendship, and in 2004, they created 3.1 Phillip Lim, which made its big debut at New York Fashion Week in 2005.
Known for their feminine yet sporty designs, made for the cosmopolitan woman, the brand has since expanded significantly. The duo has opened stores around the world, selling clothes in 40 countries. 3.1 Phillip Lim has allowed Zhou’s creativity to flow and thrive, especially during a crucial time for people everywhere: the global pandemic, when she became an outspoken supporter of her community. The company will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary, so it’s fitting Zhou was honored during this milestone year.
