Fashion designer Vivienne Tam was born in Canton and grew up in Hong Kong. Her interest in fashion began in childhood, when out of necessity, she started making her own clothes especially for Chinese New Year because her family could not afford to buy new clothes for the occasion. She was not thinking about having a brand, she just loved to dress up and make beautiful one-of-a-kind clothes. It was not until she was in school and went back to China that she discovered the beauty and richness of Chinese culture, materials, and resources. Instead of looking to the West as best, she wanted to do something for her country in her work and show the world that China was amazing. She discusses the pieces she chose to showcase in the exhibition, describing her aesthetic as bringing the yin and yang, the modern and the traditional, and the east and west together.