Tu Ly (Kunst)

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Creative Marketing Director, Ports 1961. Toronto
We’re pretty sure the portrait says it all: Canadian-bred Tu Ly is one dapper dude with an inimitable sense of style. As the creative marketing director for the luxury brand Ports 1961, Ly travels the globe serving as the art director for all advertising campaigns—he’s worked with everyone from Schiffer to Moss—and the stylist/producer for the New York Fashion Week presentations. Those Ryerson grads, eh? (We all know Erdem is a fellow Rye success story.) Ly also served as The Hudson’s Bay Company’s designer for Team Canada, designing the red-and-white wears for three consecutive Olympic games. But the best part? Carrying the Olympic torch at the Vancouver 2010 games (see the proof below). We caught up with the jet-setter just after he touched down on Canadian soil from New Mexico. We headed over to Ly’s pad—Fun fact: he lives around the block from TC headquarters—and were greeted by him in this matching floral get-up; we kid you not. To be honest, we weren’t surprised: Ly is known for his avant-garde style that puts the boys on the runway to shame. His collection of quirky Prada printed shirts, sweaters and coats were instant conversation pieces. But the real topic of conversation was the giant secret safe hidden inside Ly’s loft. Once a full-functioning furrier, the vault door was set to be trashed during the reconstruction of the building. It was the perfect backdrop for us to showcase his dramatic Dior Homme blazer (with tailcoats, nonetheless), over-the-top Prada buckle-up boots and, of course, that Prada ombré laptop bag. Many of Ly’s treasures have come from his travels: a Goyard carryall purchased on the way home from the 2008 Beijing Olympics; a CdG utility coat-comme-cape from Kyoto, which he bought while shooting a Ports campaign; and custom boots and jewellery from his recent trip to New Mexico. And just wait ‘til you see his suitcase selection. Like Ly says, “Just call me ‘The Bag Man.’”

Things I can't live without:
•1. iPhone 4S.•2. Twitter.•3. Tom Ford Oud Wood Perfume.•4. Rimowa Matte Black Travel Trolley.•5. Diptique Baies Scented Candle.

A poster boy for the new global voyager, the Saigon-born, Toronto-based Tu Ly is trans-cultural and international. At the 2006 XX Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, where he served as HBC’s designer for Team Canada, he scored gold with his graphic red and white uniforms. Team Canada was subsequently awarded the title of “Best Dressed” in the Olympic Village in a vote by other international Olympians. Currently, Tu is hard at work creating the collection for Beijing 2008 Summer Games.

In April 2006, Tu inked a deal with Saks Fifth Avenue. As Creative Director of two key private label collections, Tu creates wearable fashion for 40 Saks locations. He also serves as creative director on all advertising campaigns for Ports 1961; celebrity-favorite fashion brand. Tu has engaged the talents of supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss for their campaigns.

As Roots Canada’s Design Director in 2000, Tu developed The Roots Passport Collection. In 1999 he conceived the SAMPLE concept, a luxurious knitwear collection for all seasons with boutiques located in New York and Los Angeles. SAMPLE is a modern fashion philosophy that has found favour with Oprah Winfrey, Heather Mills McCartney and Jessica Alba.

http://www.tulycreate.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/tu_ly