Wen Zhou
Chief Executive, 3.1 Phillip Lim
The formidable executive helped grow a fledgling American designer label into a global contemporary brand in a few short years.
As chief executive of 3.1 Phillip Lim , Wen Zhou has earned the respect of the industry for her entrepreneurial mindset and can-do attitude, propelling the Phillip Lim business from fledgling start-up to international fashion brand — with retail stores in Tokyo, New York and Los Angeles and annual revenues exceeding $100 million.
Zhou’s skills in fabric sourcing and production management, as well as her sound business judgment, have enabled 3.1 Phillip Lim to offer a winning proposition, combining a strong fashion point-of-view, quality construction and more accessible price points, enabled by made-in-China production sourced via Zhou’s strong relationships in Asia.
Zhou told Time magazine, “The thing I remember from childhood is the soothing sound of my mother's sewing machine putting me to sleep. I came from a town that had no plumbing, no heat, we were simply looking to survive. I wanted to do better."
VITAL STATISTICS
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The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
ExploreWhat is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
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