March 9, 2017

Zang Toi Presents His ‘Brilliant Royal Blue’ Collection at Fresh Start Gala

Brilliant Royal Blue Collection, Fall 2017, Zang Toi

A regular in the Valley, couture designer Zang Toi, known for creating clothing that is sophisticated, elegant and timelessly beautiful, returned to Phoenix to present his Fall 2017 collection.

Toi uses his celebrity for good. In his Spring 2012 collection, he features fabric purchased directly from a village in the northwest African country of Burkina Faso, after one of the models from that area showed him some work of her local weaving industry. Over the past several years, Toi has come to Phoenix on several occasions to support Ballet Arizona, Arizona Opera, The Phoenix Symphony, Phoenix Heart Ball and this year the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.

Toi presented his 2017 Fall “Brilliant Royal Blue” collection in partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue during the cocktail reception at the 21st Annual Fresh Start Gala on March 4. Some women wore gowns designed by Toi himself for the occasion.

For the first time, Toi is not presenting a travel-inspired collection but a color-inspired collection. Last summer, Toi stayed at the newly renovated Ritz Paris in the French capital and couldn’t take his eyes off the shades of deep, royal blue of all the furniture in the palace. The Ritz Paris’ classical architecture and style had already inspired one of his collections in the early 2000s. “I’m not big into bright blue. I like French blue, beautiful sky blue. But the royal blue in the lobby of the Ritz Paris was so chic, I couldn’t get it off my head,” explains Toi. Two weeks after his visit in Paris, he decided to design an entire collection around the color blue. “I’ve used sapphire blue before, but this blue is a little bit brighter, a little bluer and very intense. I had to be careful because it’s a very loud color and it can get very garish.” Toi’s challenge was then to create a collection inspired by one unique detail, one color he is not known for.

The result was revealed mid-February at New York Fashion Week Fall 2017, where Toi showcased a feminine and chic collection titled “Brilliant Royal Blue.” Silky pantsuits, skirts with turtleneck cashmere sweaters and tailored jackets in luxurious velvets over perfectly cut pants in royal blue, black, deep navy and a splash of winter white all had Toi’s signature elegance.

“The fabrics are very luxurious. We didn’t compromise for this season since the collection is one of the simplest I’ve created, very clean, daytime fashion with not much embellishment, razor sharp tailoring,” says Toi, who decided to open the New York show with a deep navy coat made with the finest cashmere zibeline from Loro Piana and black mink cuff, “It’s a very simple coat, very chic, very wearable glamour.”

The collection was highlighted with gorgeous statement accessories, pearl tassels and six-layer large pearl necklaces as well as dramatic chokers.

Here is a sneak peek at Toi’s majectic Fall 2017 collection, that Toi’s “ladies” should very much appreciate.