Phillip Lim, the designer behind the popular contemporary brand 3.1 Phillip Lim, is stepping down from his role as Creative director. Lim’s final collection for the label, a joyful Spring/Summer 2025 line celebrating the brand’s 20th anniversary, debuted to critical acclaim during New York Fashion Week in September.
In a heartfelt joint statement, Lim and his longtime business partner Wen Zhou, co-founder and CEO of 3.1 Phillip Lim, expressed their respect and gratitude for each other and their pride in what they have built together over the past two decades. “From the very beginning, our goal was to create something meaningful, and along the way, we realized we could also inspire positive change, champion creativity, responsibility, and collaboration,” they said.
Since its founding in New York City in 2005, 3.1 Phillip Lim has been a cornerstone of contemporary American fashion, known for its aspirational yet accessible quality apparel, which includes tailoring, dresses, accessories and footwear. Lim’s designs have struck a chord with fashion enthusiasts seeking elevated everyday wear with a modern sensibility.
Even amid challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the closure of many of the brand’s international stores, Lim’s creativity and resilience shone through. He nimbly pivoted to designing “at leisure” apparel for the times and “New York Tougher Than Ever” t-shirts that captured the spirit of the city. Lim also co-founded House of Slay with fellow Asian-American fashion luminaries Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Tina Leung and Ezra Williams to combat anti-Asian racism during this difficult time.
As Phillip Lim moves on to pursue new creative ventures, 3.1 Phillip Lim will remain under the leadership of Wen Zhou as CEO and sole owner. The brand has not yet named a successor for the role of Creative director.
