Birthplace: Canton, China. Raised in Hong Kong. Came to the U.S. in 1981.
Education: Hong Kong and London
Price: $120 to $800.
Annual sales volume: $10 million retail.
First fashion-related job: "When I was still going to the Polytechnic Fashion School in Hong Kong, I worked putting together fashion shows for the Hong Kong Trade Development Association. I was 18 or 19."
Consumer: "Everybody. I love seeing the same design on different people." She's a designer for the twentysomethings.
What it takes to make it in the business: "You have to have conviction. It takes patience, lots of patience. And you have to treat problems as an opening."
Year she became independent: 1982. She began designing her namesake line in 1990. Her first 7th On Sixth show was in 1993.
Seed money: $3,000 H.K. She never had a backer.
Design Philosophy: "Clothes should be functional and easy to care for."
Biggest regret: "I have no regrets. Everything happens for a reason and every problem leads to an opening."
Biggest triumph: "Though I don't usually think in those terms, I would have to say the Mao Ze-Dong Collection."
When did you know you made it?: "I knew as soon as I presented my first collection. I knew already."
Time spent designing: "I do most of my designing out of the office. Ideas don't always come when you're focused."
What's next: "I think a lot of designers are creating styles closer to the body."