Anna Sui poses with her niece, actress Chase Sui Wonders, in 2024.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
The recently concluded spring 2026 fashion shows are fresh in our minds, but this week’s episode of The Run-Through takes us back to the 1990s. Host Nicole Phelps invites Anna Sui and her niece, actress Chase Sui Wonders, to talk about Sui’s latest book, The Nineties x Anna Sui. During their discussion, Sui shares her journey into the fashion world, which began with her childhood fascination with Seventeen Magazine in the suburbs of Detroit, her move to New York City, and the unexpected way she launched her own brand after losing her job.
“In the ’70s, I moved to New York to attend Parsons; by the second year, I was already employed with some smaller businesses. Gradually, I found my way to bigger firms,” she reminisces. “I had friends who created amazing jewelry, including dice and skeleton motifs, that were sold at punk rock boutiques. They encouraged me to design clothes to pair with their pieces, so we could share a booth at the boutique show.” The overwhelming popularity of her designs quickly attracted interest from major department stores, resulting in an ad in the New York Times. When her employer discovered the advertisement, they insisted she cease production. “I got fired, which ultimately led to the start of my own venture.”
Chase Sui Wonders, who is recognized for her recent role in the acclaimed Apple TV+ series The Studio, describes her aunt as a beacon of potential. “Coming from Detroit, my parents always emphasized the importance of attending a good school and securing a stable job,” she remarks. “My dad would insist I pursue a career in finance and study economics. However, I thought, ‘Your sister is thriving in her creative career, so I should take a chance on my own path.’ I consider her a major influence in my journey.”
