Meet the region's leading fashion designers
Born in Malta, Hong Kong-based Tayma Page Allies grew up in the Caribbean and West Africa. After completing graduate and postgraduate studies in Britain she taught French, English and Italian in Africa and Britain before moving into public relations. In 1985, she moved to Hong Kong and started studying gemology. Five years later she formed Tayma Fine Jewellery, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.
Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I've always had a flair for design and an eye for colour. Travelling was the inspiration that fuelled my love for art and jewellery.
How did you set up your company?
Building up and establishing a collection is a slow, expensive process. When I first set up my company, I organised fashion shows in China for a French label and invested my earnings in building up my gemstone collection. About three years later, I concentrated on jewellery design and set up trunk shows locally and overseas.