Amy grew up with a sketch pad and pencil in hand, on a small island off the coast of Georgia. The relaxed ease of island living, coupled with highly creative & artistic parents, (her father and grandfather both artists) are her strongest design influences. Amy was always obsessed with style – whether it was creating accessories and clothing to sell to local boutiques or spending hours putting together the perfect outfit. After graduating from University of Georgia, she pursued an early career in advertising at Ogilvy & Mather and later at American Express in New York City. When her husband was transferred to Asia in 1997, Amy decided it would be the perfect time to put her artistic skills to use and pursue her dream of launching a fashion label. She and her husband moved back to the United States in 2000 and now reside in Greenwich, Connecticut with their two boys.
In 1997, Amy moved to Hong Kong with her husband. It was there that she decided to pursue her dream of starting her own fashion label. “I’m crazy for prints and color in unexpected combinations. And I love luxury with an absolute ease about it – simple but utterly modern.” Amy’s passion for chic and easy fashions became the foundation on which Tibi was launched. Early on, Amy partnered with another American living abroad, Octavia Hyland (her grandmother’s name was Tibi). Traveling frequently to the Indonesian island of Java, they worked closely with small textile printers to develop unique prints in vivid colors. The first capsule collection was sold to Lane Crawford and to expats living in Hong Kong. Shortly after the lines debut, Amy received calls from stores in the U.S. asking to carry the collection. What began as four easy styles in hand printed fabrics quickly turned into a full collection that now sells in nearly every destination around the world. Amy and her husband left Asia in 2000 and relocated Tibi to a loft space in Soho, New York.
Amy Smilovic is passionate about surrounding herself with creative people and an inspiring environment. This makes Soho, NY the ideal location for Tibi’s design studio and showroom. Each member of the Tibi design team is bound together by their love of fashion that is laidback and easy but always chic and modern. The studio’s aesthetic is minimal, with rounded corners, arched ceilings, ample windows and an open floor plan. The décor is kept simple, with mid-century modern furniture and bold printed rugs. The New York City flagship store, also located in Soho on Wooster Street, reflects the signature of the studio and is the inspiration for Tibi stores throughout Japan.
“I love fashion. I love beautiful things that are well made, with rich and luxurious fabrics. I’m passionate about art, music, modern architecture, and all things chic. And I think the girls of Charlie’s Angels were possibly the chicest on earth. I worship Charlotte Rampling, Jane Birkin and Lauren Hutton. I think women should dress in a way that’s effortless but never lazy. And nothing is sexier than a woman in a long dress with flats. I love it when I see an individual’s personal style reflected in the way they dress. And I always think a woman should dress in contradictions – youthful and sophisticated, masculine and feminine, bold and muted colors.”
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