Zang Toi, Designer of Bright and Vibrant Women’s Clothing
The greatest fashion is universal, sharing an unspoken language based in style and individuality. But each fashion designer brings a unique vision to their creations, and one of the main influences for any artist is the culture in which they grew up. For fashion designer Zang Toi, that was the colorful environs of Malaysia, a country where traditional clothing embraces bright, vivid colors and sleek lines.
When he was 18, Zang left his native country, went to Toronto and eventually moved to New York, where he enrolled at the Parsons School of Design. Later, he apprenticed with fashion designers Mary Jane Marcasiano and Ronaldus Shamask.
On his web site, Zang is described as a color ardentist; in other words, the man loves color—the bolder the better. He is also a classic designer, creating styles that cast a romantic silhouette with sleek, glamorous dresses. And in 1989, he opened his own shop, the House of Toi, his first collection including bright sarongs, designer gowns, and tailored suits. But it was his outgoing, amiable personality as much as his designs that helped establish Zang in the New York fashion community.
He also became known for his dinner parties. Zang took up cooking as a hobby when he was a student at Parsons. Homesick for Malaysia, he learned to prepare traditional foods that he remembered eating with his family. Once his boutique opened, he says he became too busy to cook much. “For the first 10 years, I ate out almost every single night. But now, I cook again. My friends always plead with me to make Malaysian food, because it’s hard to find in New York.” He approaches cooking the same way he approaches design. “I want my clothes to be different; I want my food to be different. It might look simple, but there’s so much construction behind it. Like my suits.”
Today his label produces two clothing lines: the House of Toi signature collection and his “2” collection bridge line. His designs are sold at Nordstrom and specialty boutiques. His designer dresses are worn by Sharon Stone, Ivana Trump, Kirstie Alley, Jennifer Tilly, Eva Longoria, and Meg Ryan.
In 1991 Toi was honored with the Mouton-Cadet Young Designers Award. He also received the Public Advocate for New York City Award for his artistic contributions and achievements. In March of 1997, Zang was knighted by the Sultan of Malaysia.









