Amy Smilovic started Tibi in 1997 when her husband was transferred to Hong Kong. She had a choice— report to her husband at American Express or start her own business. She chose the latter. Tibi fashions are now found in over 200 specialty stores and upscale department stores around the world including Saks, Henri Bendel, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Scoop. Scarlett Johansson, Liv Tyler, Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon are all fans of Tibi.
ExpatWomen:You switched from corporate life to design life very quickly. How easy was the decision to start your own business, especially in Hong Kong—a country you had just arrived in?
Amy: I’ve always wanted to start my own business, and somehow moving to a foreign country just gave me that extra bit of confidence, sort of that “what’s the worst that could happen?” scenario. Hong Kong was an especially easy place in which to start a business – the infrastructure there is set up to enable people to be entrepreneurs with very minimal red tape.
ExpatWomen:Amy, can you please tell us your inspiration for your prints and designs?
Amy: When I moved to Hong Kong, the missing market was clothing at a mid-level price point that catered to a casual and chic lifestyle. I fell in love with many of the Batik and Ikat prints from Indonesia and thought they would look fabulous recolored and made up in to simple but chic little dresses and skirts. I traveled to Jakarta where I worked with printing mills directly to take their original designs but apply a western color palate so the overall effect was more kitchy and fun and not so directly ethnic. I love outrageous prints but I also like clean and minimal styling. While the prints might be over the top, the design is always modern and clean.
ExpatWomen:What have been your biggest challenges?
Amy: Jumping into an industry of which I knew nothing about was certainly my initial biggest challenge, but it certainly did make things exciting. I was really motivated in the beginning by all the challenges, so I never looked at something new as a negative, it was always just simply exciting. The biggest challenge now is to stay focused as the impulse is always there to take on every new opportunity that comes your way.
ExpatWomen:What have been your sweetest rewards?
Amy: I love it that my husband and I now work together (he was running American Express’ operations in Hong Kong and left Amex to join me in 2000). I love it that we’re both home by 6pm to be with our boys, that we can take off when we need to to be with the kids, and that every day I’m focused on fashion and design and things that absolutely thrill me creatively.
ExpatWomen:Now that you are back in New York, how do you think your Expat Experience helped you get to where you are today?
Amy: I know without a doubt I would have never started my company if I had done it in New York. The expat community in Hong Kong is so tight – it’s absolutely the place where I have made my closest friends. Everyone was so supportive out there – there really is an attitude that you’re away from home and you can do whatever you want. I made great connections there and there’s simply no way I could have done this without the support of all my British, New Zealand, Aussie, German, and American friends in Hong Kong.
ExpatWomen:How is it having your husband working for you?
Amy: We definitely work together – he handles all finance, licensing, retail store openings, and sales. I’m creative and production. We work together great. The only time we fight is when we’re debating who left the pans in the sink at home – everything’s quite smooth at the office. And it’s fabulous that this job allows him so much time with the kids – we live in Greenwich Ct where many of the dads are M.I.A. during the week, so this is a real added bonus.
ExpatWomen:What tips would you give women who want to switch career directions and branch out into something more creative like you did?
Amy: At the risk of sounding like a NIKE ad, you just do it. I got great advice from an entrepreneur in Hong Kong – he said to forgo the traditional business plan. He said the best business plan was to “Make a product. If you sell the product, you have a business. If you do not sell the product, you do not have a business.” I invested around $8k, made my clothes, and sold it to my expat friends. I had a business.
ExpatWomen:If you could choose, where would you go to live as an Expat next time and why?
Amy: JAPAN – so creative and interesting . I love being in a place where the minute you land on the soil you know without a doubt that you are in a foreign country.
ExpatWomen:Thank you very much Amy and all our very best wishes.
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