Diane freis vintage dress
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Doing Business : A Rags and Riches Tale in Hong Kong : Diane Freis left Los Angeles for Asia and made a lucrative mark for herself in the fashion business.
HONG KONG — It’s a rags-to-riches story. To be more exact, a rags-to-riches-in-rags story.
Despite Hong Kong’s well-deserved reputation for business ruthlessness--as a place where cheap labor and quick imitation usually triumph over innovation and outsiders have a hard time learning the ropes--Diane Freis of Los Angeles has carved a special and lucrative niche as one of the world’s top fashion designers.
“I’ve always been inspired by living here,” Freis said in a recent interview. “I know I can get magnificent things done in Hong Kong. If I lived elsewhere, there’d be all kinds of obstacles.”
Freis grew up in Los Angeles and graduated in 1972 with a fine arts degree from UCLA. After graduation, she set up a cottage industry in Los Angeles designing and making sequined jackets for a boutique.
She first came to Hong Kong in search of new fabrics, hitting upon what she described as a “silk chiffon” concept using the
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Diane Freis
Diane Freis fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
Find an extraordinary range of authentic Diane Freis fashion available on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing our collection of unique vintage and designer fashion to elevate your daily look or to introduce new colors to the dazzling formal wear in your wardrobe, this designer’s body of work includes elements of pink, blue, orange and other tones. Most of the items here were designed during the 20th Century, but you can find examples that were created as recently as the 21st Century and Contemporary. Customers who are interested in this designer might also find the work of Michael Hoban for North Beach Leather, Dynasty, and Victoria Royal appealing. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer Diane Freis fashion from top boutiques around the world. Diane Freis fashion prices can differ depending upon time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $198 and tops out at $1,685, while the average work can sell for $663.
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My first memory of a Diane Freis dress involves my mother. I knew nothing of Diane Freis, and though I loved dresses you couldn’t yet call me a fashionista; I was little and knew that there was this patterned dress that my mommy looked pretty in- that was it. Somewhere I hope there’s a picture of my mom in that dress, as I can see her clearly in my mind, but I haven’t found one.
Now that I’m older I have a different appreciation of Diane Freis. As these dresses began popping up for me, I couldn’t help but be charmed by the pattern mixing, the smocked waists, the chic modernity. There are so many that I’ve fallen in love with researching this piece. And yes, now that I am a fashionista, when I see a pretty dress, I also see a story. I want to know where a piece comes from, what it says, who wears them, and if we should know about the designer. And loves, Diane Freis is a designer to know!
Begin looking and there are fascinating stories to tell about Freis, an LA girl. Who made it in Hong Kong. From FashionDesignerEncyclopedia:
Diane Freis
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