Japanese born Tadashi Shoji is best known for her namesake label and T by Tadashi. Born in the Sendai area of Japan, Shoji was an artistic child, showing a great aptitude for painting and drawing from an early age. This talent was recognized by Jiro Takamatsu, one of Japan’s leading artists, known for being a leading light in the Japanese modern art movement in the sixties, who took Shojii on as an apprentice. It was during this apprenticeship that Shoji’s eyes were opened to the role of art in the wider world, and he became obsessed with New York City and the United States of America as a whole.
Acting upon this fascination, Shoji moved to the United States in 1973, and attended the Los Angeles Trade College, majoring in fashion design and simultaneously being an apprentice to the highly respected designer Bill Whitten, who had created costumes for some of the biggest names in showbusiness, including The Jacksons, Stevie Wonder and Elton John.
Following his graduation, Shoji worked for a number of years at a leading clothing manufacturer rising to a senior position, but ultimately Shoji found this unfulfilling, and in 1982, he launched his namesake label, Tadashi Shoji.
With two signature outlets in the USA, Las Vegas and Costa Mesa, and boutiques in both Shanghai and Beijing, Shoji also maintains a hugely successful e-commerce operation. His brand is available in over 4000 outlets in more than 40 countries, and his runway collections have been highly praised by the fashion press, including Vogue and Women’s Wear Daily.
Known primarily for his evening wear and red carpet designs, his clothing flatters the female form, using such techniques as draping and ruching, and his creations are worn by women of all ages. Celebrity fans of Tadashi Shoji include Dita Von Tease and Octavia Spencer, who wore a Shoji creation when winning an Oscar for her performance in The Help.
Website: www.tadashishoji.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tadashishoji
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tadashishoji
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