1961 marks the founding year of parent company Ports International, a Canadian brand that inspired a generation of independent women during the fashion revolution of the sixties. After decades of success throughout Europe and North America, Ports International made its way across the Pacific, establishing itself as one of China’s premier luxury brands.

Tia began her tenure at Ports International after attending Parsons School of Design, under the direction of then head design team Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2. Tia immersed herself in design and fabrication, eventually leaving for China, where she co-designed the global brand with sister, Fiona. In the brand’s tradition, Tia and Fiona found themselves addressing a new generation of independent women, defining their own styles in a blossoming new world.

Experience in China and abroad exposed Tia to artistic communities whose cultures and styles inspired her deeply. After a decade of creative growth and discovery, Tia was ready to develop a new collection based on the cultural experiences that had taken shape within her.

In 2004 Tia returned to New York City and launched Ports 1961 in Chelsea. Driven by a whole new generation of global minded women living without borders, it was designed to meet the ever accelerating needs of the modern woman with a bohemian spirit. Ports 1961 soon caught the attention of luxury retailers around the world.

In 2005 Ports 1961’s seasonal ad campaign was highlighted throughout the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”.

In 2006 Tia presented her collection for the first time during New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park. The collection is still shown there today.

For Hollywood’s award season in 2007, Tia introduced Ports Fait Main at the Chateau Marmont. This one of a kind collection of red carpet dresses immediately gained the attention of Hollywood stylists, dressing Sandra Bullock, Angelina Jolie, China Chow, Julia Armond, Alit Larter, Portia di Rossi, Perry Reeves, Marge Helgenberger and other notable personalities. Later that year Ports 1961 entered the European market, opening a show room in Milan.

In 2008 Tia returned to the Chateau Marmont with Musician/Photographer Bryan Adams to photograph her second Fait Main Collection. That same year Ports 1961 was introduced to Paris during fashion week at the Luxury Vendome Collective. That spring marked the opening of the first Ports 1961 boutique on Melrose Place in Los Angeles. The boutique features the entire ready-to-wear collection including accessories, shoes and unique wooden handbags that are also at the MoMA stores in New York City.

2009 marks the opening of the US flagship store in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. As Creative Director, Tia continues to build and direct the brand from the New York headquarters, influencing it on a multitude of levels, from stores design concepts to leading the global trail of Ports 1961’s advertising campaign locations.

A port 1961.com chronicles the journey past, present and future.

Press Inquiries: Please contact Tony Alcindor 212-414-1050 | tony.alcindor@ports1961.com