As Creative Director and Co-Founder of his eponymous label, Phillip Lim was born to Chinese parents who immigrated to Southern California, his mother found work as a seamstress and his father became a professional poker player. Lim studied finance at California State University Long Beach, but after 3 years, switched his focus to a degree in home economics. A weekend job at Barneys South Coast Plaza led to an internship with Katayone Adeli, and eventually, a position on her design team. When Adeli relocated to New York, Lim remained in Los Angeles and co-founded his first label, Development. After four years at Development, Lim relocated to New York to launch 3.1 Phillip Lim, the now 15-year old pioneering modern luxury brand with a business partner and friend, Wen Zhou. Lim is the recipient of 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 is an advocate for Apex for Youth, and maintains an ongoing partnership with Children in Conflict. Lim released a digital edition of his cookbook, More Than Our Bellies, through which all proceeds were donated to City Harvest, and embarked on a personal project, “New York Tougher than Ever,” designing limited-edition merchandise through which all proceeds benefit local organizations such as Thrive.