The Designer Steps Down from the Brand He Co-Founded and Has Led Creatively Since 2005
Designer Phillip Lim has announced his departure from the brand 3.1 Phillip Lim, which he co-founded in 2005 with Wen Zhou, who will now serve as sole CEO and owner. Lim’s exit follows the recent celebration of the brand’s 20th anniversary during New York Fashion Week, where he presented his final Spring 2025 collection. In a joint statement, Lim and Zhou expressed pride in the brand’s accomplishments, saying, “It is with great respect and gratitude for each other and our long partnership that we have decided to part ways at 3.1 Phillip Lim. As the brand moves into a new chapter, we are so proud of what we have built and the strength of genuine community around us. Our shared vision and hard work has allowed us to stay independent and achieve remarkable success in a constantly changing and challenging industry.”
The 3.1 Phillip Lim brand has become an enduring staple of contemporary American fashion, known for blending New York City’s casual cool with accessible luxury across womenswear, menswear, accessories, and footwear. Over the years, the brand expanded internationally, with stores in New York, Hawaii, China, Japan, and South Korea, while reaching customers in over a dozen countries.
The co-founders emphasized the meaningful impact their brand has made, noting, “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. We are incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made for the past 20 years and for that we will be eternally thankful.” Zhou will lead the brand forward, but no plans for Lim’s replacement as creative director have been disclosed.
During the pandemic, Lim adapted the brand to market challenges by designing a line of “at leisure” garments and creating the “New York Tougher Than Ever” campaign to support local communities. He also co-founded House of Slay, an initiative combatting anti-Asian hate, with industry peers. Now, with his departure, Lim will explore new ventures, leaving the brand in Zhou’s hands as it enters its next chapter.