For Yeohlee Teng, BFA Fashion Design, New York City is a place that sustains artists and designers. Accordingly, Teng has promoted the Garment District as a local manufacturing and retail hub and worked to preserve the foundation of resilient cities: a healthy natural environment. An early leader in sustainable fashion—specifically zero-waste production—Teng elegantly balances conservation and style.
Of her resourceful methods, Teng says, "In my design, it is important that time and material, energy and economy, are factored in. Zero-waste practice includes creating multifunctional designs that can be worn everywhere for a long time." This commitment has earned Teng a loyal clientele and accolades including a 2004 National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and a place in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.