Fashion designer and creative director Phillip Lim grew up in Southern California. In 2004, he relocated to New York to launch 3.1 Phillip Lim and spent 20 years at the helm of the pioneering modern luxury brand before departing in late 2024 to pursue new ventures.
Lim is recognized as one of the most talented and successful American designers in the fashion industry. He is the recipient of several industry honors, including the Fashion Group International’s Women’s Designer ‘Rising Star’ Award, the CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear, the CFDA Swarovski Award for Menswear, and the CFDA Award for Accessories Designer of the Year.
Beyond the label, Lim has become a leader, author, entrepreneur, and recognized community advocate. In 2021, he led the #STOPASIANHATE movement, co-founding a GoFundMe initiative that has raised over $7 million to date. Lim was recognized for his efforts at the 2021 Footwear News Awards, receiving the FNAA Award for Social Impact. Lim continues to speak out on behalf of social justice issues and was selected as a global ambassador for the United Nations’ Fight Racism 2022 campaign. In 2023, Lim co- founded Creating Space, a grassroots organization aimed at bringing attention and healing to the mental health crisis affecting the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
