Classically trained as an artist and known for his radiant monochrome tableaux, Richard Tsao brings his eye for color to his rich palette of silk designs. Tsao’s exquisite jewel-toned creations are evocative of the rich tropical hues of his native Thailand. Born and raised in Bangkok, of Chinese descent, Tsao cultivated an early appreciation for tailoring and fine silks from his mother’s array of custom made cheong sam dresses. Inspired by the exquisite beauty of Thai silk and the way it illuminates the wearer, his simple and classic designs incorporates subtle details from Southeast Asian and Chinese traditional garments.
Silk, believed to have originated in China 4,000 years ago, has had a rich history in Thailand. Authentic Thai silk is prized for its artisanal quality. The silk that Tsao uses for his designs are not mass-produced and does not undergo mechanized finishing treatments. These costly standards maintain the quality and natural beauty of the fabric, allowing it to catch and reflect light more brilliantly. Handwoven from hand spun pure silk yarn on old-fashioned looms, the painstaking process results in a lustrous fabric with a luxurious texture and sensuous whispery sound.
Tsao continues this labor-intensive tradition in developing his collection. For the silk that Tsao uses, a week is required to produce just fifty yards – an astonishing number considering that each of his signature shirred Mandarin Cocoon jackets requires six and a half to seven yards of silk. And producing one of his jackets requires an entire day. Similarly, it can take up to a year to hone each of his designs – these works-in-progress are exchanged via post or phone as the tailor is in Bangkok while Tsao is here in New York City. During this process, Tsao communicates with his tailor almost daily by phone, an aspect of designing that Tsao truly enjoys as it allows him to stay connected to his native culture and to the Bangkok community. This artisanal quality and attention to detail is part of Thailand’s rich arts and crafts tradition to which Tsao feels deeply connected.
His collection for the Asia Store includes five of his most popular designs, including the best-selling Mandarin Cocoon Jacket. He produces two collections annually, introducing eight new custom created colors each season. Tsao, who divides his time between Bangkok and New York, has been collaborating with the Asia Society Museum since 2001.
