By Nana 
When Maggie Fan walked across the stage to receive her diploma from the prestigious Parsons School of Design in 2024, the air was thick with the promise of a future shaped by four years of dedicated study. The conventional path, a series of internships and freelance gigs within the fashion industry, beckoned. Yet, Fan found herself at a profound crossroads, a space where the allure of professional stability wrestled with a burgeoning desire for personal creative autonomy. In an increasingly competitive global job market, characterized by the often-daunting process of endless application submissions, Fan harbored a secret ambition: to forge her own independent venture. This pivotal decision, to invest in herself rather than solely pursuing traditional employment, marked the genesis of a transformative journey, leading her to establish herself as the full-time designer behind the burgeoning avant-garde fashion label, Tang Chi Couture. Based in the heart of New York City, the brand is rapidly making its mark with its distinctive reimagining of classic silhouettes, infused with striking details that have garnered significant attention within the editorial landscape. In an exclusive interview with EnVi, conducted via Zoom following a demanding studio day, Fan shared the intricate narrative of her trials, triumphs, and the inspirations that fuel her creative vision.
From Taipei’s Elegance to the Rhythms of New York City
Fan’s early fascination with fashion was not ignited by distant celebrities, but by the intimate world of her family. Raised in Taiwan, her childhood was steeped in the sartorial elegance of her mother and elder sister, both ardent admirers of fashion. The genesis of this passion can be traced back to her mother’s meticulously curated walk-in closet, a testament to a lifelong appreciation for each garment. Even before the advent of social media’s ubiquitous "Get Ready With Me" videos, Fan recalls her mother embodying a similar spirit, "She really brings those kinds of inspirational moments into how people dress up for events." This familial influence extended to her sister, who embarked on a career in fashion, styling photoshoots and cultivating a deep appreciation for archival fashion literature. Fan admits to a childhood habit of "always sneaking into her room and just looking at those beautiful images," a clandestine immersion into the world of visual storytelling through clothing.
After relocating from Taiwan to the United States, Fan has embraced New York City as her home for over six years. She articulates the city’s enduring allure, stating, "you might get sick of New York City, but you would never get bored in New York City." This vibrant metropolis, a global epicenter of fashion and culture, has profoundly shaped her artistic development. However, despite the undeniable influence of her New York base, Fan remains deeply connected to her Taiwanese roots. Many of her designs subtly echo the organic forms found in Taiwan’s natural landscapes, a reflection of her upbringing. Furthermore, this connection has influenced her work methodology. "We live at a much slower pace than New York so it really affected me to have me slow down in my design process," she explained. By harmonizing the realities of her heritage with her creative aspirations, Fan has cultivated a design philosophy that is both deeply personal and expansively imaginative.
The Conceptual Core of Tang Chi Couture
In an era where digital interfaces often dominate inspiration gathering, Fan maintains a steadfast appreciation for the tactile and enduring power of physical media. Coffee table books and print magazines remain integral to her research process, a deliberate departure from the ephemeral nature of online scrolling. "When you design a fashion collection, you shouldn’t only look at the inspiration involved in fashion," she advises, emphasizing a broader perspective. "You need to look more outside of the world, like all of the art pieces in exhibitions." This holistic approach to inspiration is evident in her meticulous design process.
For her Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Fan underscored the importance of grounding conceptual frameworks in tangible, real-world observations. This foundational research is followed by an uninhibited phase of experimentation through sketching and draping. "You design while you create something in the process and then I lend it to the things that I like," she describes, highlighting the iterative nature of her creative practice.
The genesis of each Tang Chi Couture piece lies in the meticulous attention to detail, beginning with the creation of mood boards. Every design choice is carefully considered, guided by internal dialogues such as: "Is this the color that I want for this collection? Should there be a pop of color in there? Is it too dark or too light?" This rigorous process is crucial for visualizing and maintaining the aesthetic integrity of each collection from its inception to its completion.
One of the unexpected yet deeply cherished benefits of spearheading her own couture brand, according to Fan, is the profound sense of community it fosters. "I enjoy seeing all those creatives out there, like the stylists or artists, how they sort of restyle my garments and give new life into the clothing that I created," she expresses. Witnessing the diverse perspectives and interpretations of her work allows her to perceive her own creations through a new lens, enriching her understanding of their potential. "It’s like a different aspect and perspective that I could give into my own clothing, so it’s definitely interesting to see that."
Like many creatives navigating the fashion industry, Fan acknowledges that her career trajectory has not always been linear. However, she approaches the inherent fluctuations of her journey with a steadfast reliance on her intuition, choosing conviction over apprehension.
Stepping Stones to Global Recognition
The ambition to present at Fashion Week, a coveted platform for designers to showcase their creations to industry tastemakers, is a shared dream among many. For Maggie Fan, this aspiration materialized last year with an invitation to showcase at Flair Fashion’s runway event in London. However, such significant opportunities often come with formidable challenges. Fan candidly shared her initial reservations: "I was a little doubtful whether I should launch this couture brand. They reached out to me a few times when I was in college, but I never felt like I was ready for that kind of commitment." Ultimately, she recognized that Tang Chi Couture was not a dream to be indefinitely postponed but a destiny unfolding precisely as it should.
One year post-graduation from Parsons, Fan took a significant leap of faith, venturing beyond her established comfort zone. "It was definitely a big challenge because it’s the first runway that introduced my couture brand and it was overseas in London," Fan reminisced. "So it had so many challenges, but I guess I’m the person who really likes to walk out of my comfort zone and take these kinds of challenges to push myself." The event served as the grand unveiling of her SS26 collection, titled "Silent Marks," and represented a deeply personal full-circle moment. "I studied abroad at CSM during college. So I really miss London, I love London. The vintage markets that I used to go to, like all those memories sort of came back," Fan recounted with palpable enthusiasm. This triumphant return to a city that held significant personal meaning marked a pivotal moment in establishing Tang Chi Couture as a burgeoning force within the global fashion industry.
Finding Muses in Unexpected Places
Less than three months after her London debut, Tang Chi Couture extended its reach to Los Angeles through a strategic showroom partnership with L.E.R. Public Relations. It was during this period that Fan received the exciting news that one of her designs had captured the attention of esteemed celebrity stylist Enrique Melendez.
The actress Leah Sava Jeffries, a rising star in Hollywood, graced the red carpet for the season two premiere of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians in December 2025, wearing a striking look from Tang Chi Couture’s SS26 collection, aptly named "Tick-Tock." This unexpected endorsement resulted in a viral red carpet moment, bringing significant visibility to the young brand. "The accessories were initially inspired by the hour hands on the clock, so I think he sort of related that to the siren and anchor vibes in the show," Fan shared, offering insight into the thematic connections that resonated with the stylist.
Melendez’s creative styling of the piece further captivated Fan. "He switched the back of the necklace to the front so the long part kind of resonates with the anchor of the show, and that’s really interesting," she noted, appreciating the innovative interpretation of her design.
While Jeffries has become a prominent figure associated with Tang Chi Couture, the brand draws inspiration from a broader spectrum of influential personalities. Long before her passion for fashion fully ignited, Fan was an ardent admirer of the musical artist Lady Gaga, identifying as a "Little Monster" – the term for Gaga’s dedicated fanbase. "I grew up listening to her music in elementary school, like me and my dad would play her music in our cars so I really love her," Fan shared. She expressed profound admiration for Gaga’s fearless evolution of style over the years, consistently commending her courage to stand out, even at the risk of being unconventional. The actress Anya Taylor-Joy also emerged in conversation, with Fan describing her "dark but elegant aesthetic" as perfectly embodying the essence of Tang Chi Couture.
Charting a New Chapter
Looking towards the future, Tang Chi Couture is poised to further define its identity through narratives that skillfully blend dark romance with sophisticated elegance. As Fan continues to meticulously build the brand from behind the scenes, this next phase represents a significant beginning.
With unwavering determination, Fan revealed her ambitious plans for the current year: "I am planning to do a collection this year. My goal for this year is to really create a new collection and then to participate in New York Fashion Week to have my own show." This aspiration signifies a deliberate move towards greater creative expression and industry engagement. Reflecting on her journey, Fan explained her initial measured approach: "For the first collection, I kind of held back because I wanted to observe what feedback the industry would give me. But for now, I think I’m ready to push further and challenge myself to do more experimental work." This readiness to embrace bolder creative risks is a testament to her growing confidence and the brand’s established footing.
Fan envisions Tang Chi Couture expanding its creative reach through diverse collaborations. "I definitely want to reach out to more stylists to have different creative collaborations. I want to participate more in the art and creative side, like maybe to do more films," she stated, articulating a desire to explore interdisciplinary artistic ventures. She also hopes to leverage the unique backdrop of New York City for more ambitious editorial photoshoots.
When asked about her strategy for sustaining longevity in the demanding fashion industry, Fan offered a profound piece of advice: "Have a kind mindset and don’t be too easily influenced by other people’s opinions. It’s really, really important or else you’ll get too many unhealthy breakdowns throughout this journey. But yeah, just try to stay true to yourself." This emphasis on authenticity and emotional resilience underscores her mature approach to navigating the challenges inherent in a creative career.
In moments of stress, this self-proclaimed "workaholic" finds solace in exploring the city’s numerous dog parks. "I think, and especially New York, is such a great place for a lot of amazing parks so that’s my favorite place to be in," she noted. Even in these moments of respite, Fan’s observant nature allows her to subconsciously absorb the myriad details of her surroundings, which may very well find their way into future collections. While New York City has served as Fan’s formative campus, Tang Chi Couture is now embarking on a journey into an entirely new world of creative possibility.
