How Anna Sui Shaped the Way I See Myself — and the Future of Fashion

Image via kumikog2016 on Tripadvisor

November 16th, 2025

Discovering Anna Sui didn’t just introduce me to a new designer — it introduced me to a new way of understanding fashion. Her work immediately felt like an invitation to exist outside of what society expects from femininity and style. It’s whimsical, dark, dreamy, romantic, and rebellious all at the same time. That duality challenged how I saw myself: that femininity can be powerful, that softness can hold depth, and that the most interesting version of beauty is the one that feels true rather than socially approved.

Part of my admiration comes from Anna’s story itself — the resilience she showed while bringing her brand to life. She didn’t enter the industry through the “expected” path of privilege or connections. She built her name through grit and self-belief, turning a childhood dream into a globally recognized fashion house. Knowing that she pushed through the early years when people doubted her makes wearing her designs feel personal. It’s like carrying a reminder that identity doesn’t have to be small, diluted, or easy for others to understand.

What sets Anna apart, though, is the way her collections defy the idea that fashion has to reference fashion. Her world is built from music, art, makeup, subculture, folklore, history, and the beauty of everyday inspiration. She creates from a place of curiosity rather than conformity, drawing from the things that move her emotionally, not the things the industry demands. That approach changed the way I think about creativity and the way trends dominate the market. Her designs prove that originality comes from seeing the world deeply — not just chasing relevance.

The first Anna Sui piece I ever bought — a beautiful handbag I found on Depop — reminded me that fashion doesn’t have to be brand new to feel special. Vintage, resale, and archival pieces are part of fashion’s story, too. Owning that bag isn’t just about accessorizing; it’s about carrying history, culture, and a point of view. It feels like a daily act of choosing identity over trend cycles, personal taste over what’s “in,” and meaning over status. It made me realize how much the industry could gain by encouraging consumers to build wardrobes with purpose instead of speed.

Anna Sui for Paper Magazine 2024

Anna Sui has shaped how I see the future of fashion: a future where heritage, individuality, and emotional connection matter more than trend turnover. She reminds me that style is not just about looking beautiful, but about feeling understood — especially for women who don’t fit neatly into narrow definitions of femininity. And as a designer of color who never diluted her identity for approval, she represents the direction fashion needs to go toward storytelling that celebrates diversity, subculture, and unapologetic self-expression. Fashion’s next era doesn’t belong to brands that tell consumers who to be — it belongs to the ones that inspire them to be themselves.

My first Anna Sui piece!