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© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
THIEN LE
a man of the cloths:
charmeuse, chiffon, organza and silk
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Socialites, celebrities and
athletes across the world count
on Thien Le to dress them
around the clock.
The Canadian designer’s flawless workmanship carries through all of
his lines: from luxurious cashmere weekend wear to versatile pieces for
golfing to red-carpet couture.
His designs are polished and skillfully draped with no expense spared.
Baby-soft, double-lined cashmere coats. One-seam, bias-cut, handembroidered evening gowns. His wedding dresses often incorporate
30 metres of silk chiffon — enough material to cover nearly the entire
length of a football field.
His work often references the 1930s, 40s and 50s — a window Le calls
“the elegant period.”
Today, [Thien] is
recognized as one
of Canada’s premier
designers.
It’s no wonder he rarely sleeps. For Le, a late start means arriving at his
downtown Toronto studio by 4 a.m.
In Toronto, he studied at the International Academy of Design. He cut
his teeth at the Canadian Opera Company, creating costumes with an
attention to detail that has become his trademark.
In 1999, he launched his own label, the first of more than half-dozen
lines that now bear his name. Le also works as a consultant for
corporations and has consulted with Bombardier, Miele, Cashmere,
Virgin Mobile, Lancome and Elizabeth Arden.
Today, at 35, he is recognized as one of Canada’s premier designers.
In June 2012, his work will be on display with six other Canadian
designers in an exhibition titled, “Fashionality: Dress and Identity in
Contemporary Canadian Art” at The McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Thien LE is about evolving,
not reinventing, therefore the
foundation of each collection
remains constant.
The collections are inspired by the fundamentals
of fashion – the fabrics, colours, textures, finishes,
fit and the craftsmanship. The silhouette is
classically feminine with modern touches.
Jackets are beautifully tailored with attention
to detail, a ribbon closure here, a contrast
lining there. Dresses are entrance makers
in the tradition of Audrey Hepburn and
Grace Kelly.
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
The Thien LE woman is confident,
intelligent, sophisticated and yet playful.
She cannot be defined by her age; she is a woman
that has reached the pinnacle of her career and her
life.
Worldly and educated, fashion to her is not about
what’s trendy but about what’s uniquely hers.
Clothing for her is about the natural balance
between her beauty and that of the garment,
each enhancing the other.
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
The Thien LE label made its debut in 1999.
Since then, the name Thien LE has
become synonymous with glamourous
and elegant eveningwear.
Made from the finest silks and wools from Europe and Asia,
the garments are flattering, timeless, intricately detailed, finely
tailored, and always sexy.
There are a number of different lines within the Thien LE label.
They are as follows:
Thien LE
Ready to wear
Thien LE ONE
One of a kind, couture pieces
Thien LE Signature Custom pieces, direct from studio
Thien LE MEN
Tailored menswear in the tradition
of Saville Row (only in Fall/Winter)
Thien LE Bridal
and
Thien LE Luxe
A sumptuous collection of cashmere
Le.T Golf
Style-savvy golf and casual wear
for the undaunted women
Thien LE continues to be involved in every aspect of the business from the initial fabric selection to the final fitting. As a
result, he has a personal relationship with all his clientele.
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
VietSun Magazine & VietLife
As the Fashion Director and a regular contributor
to these Vietnamese magazines, Thien shares his
expertise in fashion and lifestyle. His use of
photography and subject matter bring dynamic
content to the magazines.
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Pearls of the Far East
Thien’s foray in the entertainment industry continues most
recently as costume designer with Cuong Ngo’s feature film,
Pearls of the Far East. Along with the star-studded cast and crew,
Thien recently attended the movie’s premiere in Vietnam, which
garnered great reviews.
Adapted from award-winning stories by Minh Ngoc Nguyen,
Cuong Ngo weaves a vivid, timeless and unforgettable tapestry
with characters brought to life by a gorgeous cast of acclaimed
talent from Vietnam, US and Canada, including actresses Truong
Ngoc Anh (The White Silk Dress, 2006), Nhu Quynh (Vertical Ray
of the Sun, 2000), Hong Anh (Moon at the Bottom of the Well,
2009), Ngo Thanh Van (The Clash, 2010, The Rebel, 2007), Minh
Ngoc Nguyen (who also wrote the screenplay based on her own
stories), and the legendary Kieu Chinh (Joy Luck Club, 1993).
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Ngan Ngoc Nguyen
Author and host of
Paris by night / Thuy Nga
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
clockwise from top left
Thuy Duong
Master of ceremonies
Nhu Quynh
Singer
Kieu Chinh
Actor, “The Joy Luck Club”
Ky Phuong Uyen
Singer
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Iman
Supermodel and actor
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
right + bottom right
Chantal Kreviazuk
Singer / Songwriter
bottom left
Raine Maida
Our Lady Piece
Singer / Songwriter
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Catherine O’Hara
Award-winning actor
“A Mighty Wind”
“Best in Show”
“Home Alone”
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
(Below)
Libby Znaimer
Journalist & author
(Above)
Colm Feore
Award-winning actor of stage and screen,
such as “The Borgias,” “The Chronicles of
Riddick,” “Thor,” and “24”
Donna Feore
Director & Choreographer of the
prestigious Stratford Festival
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
the atelier of
Thien Le
a man of the cloths:
charmeuse, chiffon,
organza and silk
by Jennifer Lee
ARTICLE FROM
LUSH MAGAZINE
Sitting at a long rectangular table, Thien Le pops his head up from behind
the sewing machine as I enter his studio. “Can you wait a second?” he asks.
A mountain of massive plastic bins tower behind him as he sews, while a
never-ending string of patterns hang in front of his table. As I learn later on,
the bins are row upon row of style biographies, each a precious archive of
swatches, measurements and patterns, one for each of Le’s long-term clients.
As for the patterns—well, they’re cut by Le himself and for a designer rounding
out a decade of work, that’s a commentary on itself. But for Le, his label
wouldn’t function any other way. “It’s the process of making clothes,” that
defines his label. Involved in everything from standard designing to occasional
sewing, Le is no high-nosed couture designer, all ego and no workmanship.
As a label, Le explains, quality is dependent on well-rounded fashion knowhow. “My clothes wouldn’t look the same if I didn’t know how to sew,” he
says, “A stitch can make a big difference.” Particularly in Le’s case who, at
times, designs dresses to be delicately held by a single stitch, allowing them
to seamlessly cascade down the body. Attention to detail is a tragic habit for
Le. “It’s just horrible,” he says, throwing his hands up in the air, “all I see are
flaws.” He pops out of his seat and tugs playfully at one of the hundreds of
threaded peacock feathers hand-stitched onto a silk skirt. “I don’t see the
finished sample. I see thread hanging out!” Clients have long-profited from
Le’s quirky tunnel vision. In the role of the plastic surgeon sans scalpel, Le
thinks two things of customers when they walk through his studio doors:
what are you trying to cover, and how can his clothes give you the illusion
of physical perfection? With regards to customer purchases, Le insists on fit.
“When you come here with money, it doesn’t mean you can buy everything
you want,” he laughs. With his reputation at stake — “it has my name on the
back”— Le personally ousts any unflattering items of clothing which may tickle
a customer’s fancy. “They get used to it after a while,” he says of the routine,
chuckling as he adds, “I try to fix my customers’ posture, as well.”
It’s obvious that fashion for Le is “not about the money.” Nor is it about
media, as Le’s absence from the major Canadian shows and the label’s lack
of a recent ‘look book’ attests. Media frenzy never found its way to Le’s label,
despite his work being collected around the globe. Even back when Le was
the ‘new’ kid on the block, publications never referred to him as ‘up-andcoming Thien Le from Toronto’ and he jokes that it’s left him feeling as if he’s
missed a step in his fashion career. While Le admits press is “great to have”
his attitude is expressive, “The media doesn’t pay my bills.” Le is a purist
when it comes to fashion. “I don’t like the politics,” he says of media placement and “I don’t like pretentious people,” he says of fashion’s notorious elite.
To Le, fashion is the job, not the hype balancing the job. “I don’t want to be
the next Tom Ford,” he exclaims on the topic of hype, a bizarre proclamation
coming from a man sitting in a studio brimming with exquisite couture dresses
designed by him. But it’s not about him; that’s the point. As Le—a strong
believer in karma — attests, his continued professional success and happiness
are thanks to those around him. “My customers and my staff made me who I
am today.”
(Continued on pg.24)
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Relaxed and straightforward, Le’s ability to establish immediate intimacy
has fostered a familial atmosphere that extends to staff — “we’re like a family
here” —and customers —“I love them”—alike. “They’re very loyal,” Le boasts
of his staff. The same can be said of his clientele. Reveling in customers willing
to pay a retainer fee to stay on file, Le is happy to “bend [over] backwards”
to ensure customer satisfaction. His exceptional list of credits include producing
a skirt overnight after servicing a midnight call from a frazzled bride; customizing luxury pajamas (which aren’t even part of his repertoire) upon request;
and custom designing dresses based on nothing more than a phone call and
his trusty bin of fashion files. Tailoring his own sunny version of customer care
— “tell me what you want and I’ll accommodate it” — Le is simultaneously a
designer, stylist, host and friend. He offers a dedication to his clientele that
is almost unheard of in any business, let alone the world of high fashion.
“My parents don’t even have my cell phone and my customers have my cell
phone,” Le chuckles. Formality is not Le’s style. Curled back in his chair, Le
tells me of how “customers hang out here for hours,” including the occasional
“bored celebrity” who stops by to chat.
Le’s clothing is as addictive as his company. After an interview that lasted
well past its intended hour, Le began dressing me in his label, throwing
luxurious cashmere coats on top of shimmering silk gowns— laughing all the
while. Though five lines are featured under the Thien Le umbrella label —
ready-to-wear, couture, custom-made, men’s wear and bridal — eveningwear
remains Le’s calling card. To earn a name that is synonymous with glamorous
and elegant eveningwear, Le has been diligent in maintaining a centricity to
his creative vision. “I ask myself everyday, what am I known for? Consistency.”
It is paying off, as is the expense. “I design clothes I can’t afford and I love it,”
says Le. His label carries nothing under $300, with the price of couture gowns
reaching onwards and upwards to $20,000. As a designer, Le’s purpose is to
“make simple things look different.” To achieve his unparalleled simplicity and
richness of design, fabric is essential and is handpicked from all corners of the
world. Though as a design student he swore “never [to] use silk, charmeuse
or chiffon,” silk is now amongst Le’s prized fabrics, alongside virgin cashmere
imported from Europe and exclusive to Le. Silk is slung into a sophisticated
wrap-gown, red and black in colour. The lush silk fabric which comprises the
outside is the same that lines the inside, translating into (though unintentionally
so) a reversible gown. For himself, a solid silk coat expresses Le’s fondness for
colour, for this is a man with a wardrobe which features “nothing in black.”
Lined in a vibrant brocade print, the coat begs to be reversed and the “lining”
(for lack of a better word) shown off. Without want or attempt—“it just happens that way”— the intricate detail and the quality of the fabric transforms
“lining” into anything but the usual slip.
For Le, excess is equated with luxury: 100 metres of raw silk is spun into
an audacious red gown, created as if to sculpt the figure of a gothic princess.
Couture gowns like this are one-of-a-kind pieces. If replicas are constructed,
the most that are made are three. Still, it is rare—especially in Canada—that
one bumps into a duplicate Thien Le design, for as Le explains, “they never
stay in the country.” More often than not, Le’s collection travels overseas;
despite his strong reputation in Canada, it’s the label’s biggest market. Such
is not the case with this particular gown. Created for a well-known Canadian
actress/producer, the gown will see its debut at the grand opening of the
Canadian Opera Company. Le does not mention the name of his famous
muse; name-dropping is not his style. Leave that, along with the politics, to
the rest of the lot. Thien Le will take fashion—pure and simple.
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Tailoring his own
sunny version of
customer care,
Le is simultaneously
a designer, stylist,
host and friend.
CONTACT
TN[1501] Incorporated
THIEN LE STUDIO
176 John Street, Suite 503
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1X5
Canada
t. 1 416 260 2324
f. 1 416 260 9233
e. [email protected]
SHOWROOM
176 John Street, Suite 509
Tororonto, Ontario M5T 1X5
Canada
e. [email protected]
w. www.thienle.com
Southeast Asia
Vietnam
Hanh Nguyen
0084 938 298 395
[email protected]
Europe / Middle East
France
Cinthea Sleiman
011 33 (0) 6 81 41 30 35
[email protected]
East Asia
Hong Kong / China
Armina Alcala
011 852 9784 0123
[email protected]
© THIEN LE / TN1501 INC. 2003-2012
Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman
Antonio Arch
(786) 228-7019
[email protected]