Vivienne Tang
One of Malaysia's best-known designers, Beatrice Looi Soh Kwan was born into a fashion family. Her mother taught her dressmaking, and she studied under Alan Yap in the 1980s. She cites Asia and Issey Miyake as inspirations. Her signature style is all about detail. She uses fine lace, beads, pleats and plenty of flowing materials.
When did you launch?
I created my namesake label six years ago. Eternity, Elite and EDC by Beatrice Looi have existed since 1991.
How did you get started?
My husband helped a lot. He gave me the courage to explore and develop what I did best. When we opened our first store, in [premium mall] Star Hill Kuala Lumpur, he designed the store and took over brand management. In less than a year, we opened another boutique. We'll expand into Singapore by the end of the year, and have been invited to open in Hong Kong. We have big plans, but we're cautious about moving too fast.