Marina Yee
Marina Yee, as her name suggests has Chinese roots, however
she graduated at the fashion department of the Antwerp academy in the
early eighties.
As early as 1981 she starts working for Gruno & Chardin and Bassetti.
In this period Marina Yee as one of the six goes to London with designers
Martin Margiela, another famous designer, and Dirk Bikkembergs.
Although here designs have considerable success,
Marina Yee decides she has enough. While the other five designers find
their own way, Marina Yee can't follow their success. She only realizes
a collection called “Marie” in 1986 sponsored by a Japanese
investor. But Marina Yee does not feel comfortable with the obligations
of a commercial brand.
She decides to leave the world of fashion.
After the birth of her son Tzara in 1992, a new part of her life begins.
She makes a gradual comeback in the world of fashion. In 1999 she becomes
the coordinator of the project “fashion for Van Dyck”, a part
of the Van Dyck year in Antwerp. In the winter of 1999-2000 she starts
with a new collection under the name Lena Lena. Marina Yee wants to design
for a full range of women. She currently works for Dirk Bikkembergs.
Style
Marina Yee pays a lot of attention
to details, using rough materials combined with fine materials such as
bright coloured satins. She wants her silhouettes to seem taller and smaller.
The life of Nomads is an important source of inspiration for her work.
In her own way Marina Yee builds images of strong modern women.