Tzaims Luksus-Made in Asia 1970-Present Day

 

Burmese Royal Clothing

I have been designing fabrics and clothing in Asia starting in 1970 when I went to India living and working in Calcutta.  I had made a good connection with the Asher family that produced cotton fabrics for traditional indian clothing and designed a new type denim 

more light weight but stripped.  After three months work and returning home nothing from India arrived.  In India things went very slowly so I gave up working there.  The next year I lived and worked In Kathmandu, Nepal.  This was satisfactory so I continued for two years.  

Events in my life changed so I didn't return to Asia until I was commissioned by Balenciaga to go to Korea.in 1988 and then in 1989 I went to Sanur Bali operating under the IESC, International Executive Service Corp, designing cotton hand woven Batik and opening a cafe called MONKEY with the first TZ.L Boutique attached in Southeast Asia

That same year I produced TZ.L logo silk scarves .  Not until 2017 did I return to Southeast Asia to Bangkoj, Thailand and then Rangoon Burma in 2018 and 2020.  Duevto circumstances with Covid I have remained in Rabgoon Yangon, since today end of April 2025.

i had my own fabric production in Vermont US ~Worked in Lyon France Zurich Switzerland, Como, Italy and Asia and the quality was exactly the same everywhere.  The difference is that things are more possible in Burma Myanmar, faster ,and state of the art with custom limited production then China, that only wants mass produced items.  So CHINA IS NOT FOR ME.

Quality wise Asia has taken the leadership even though most buying public cling to the couture labels of Paris, Paris depends on Asia for quality fabric and production of luxury goods.  Those strong in the industry and involved behind the scenes, in the know, arecawsre of Asia's superior workmanship over Europe with the US not involved with luxury produced there any more.  I know, since nothing, no experienced workers exist in the US ant more.  Francr and Italy depend on their past reputation but all dependvon China.  A fact finally uncovered after well over thirty five years.

So producing luxury for ladies haute couture and men's action sports wear in India, Nepal and Southeast Asia started in 

1970 and again in January 1988 when I was first commissioned by Balenciaga Paris, through their NYC agent Vi Stasio, who was Paloma Pocasso's perfume public relations agent at the time.

I designed about 30 sketches that Vi sent to Paris for approval.  All were approved.  In the contract I was ordered not to contact Balenciaga in Paris for any reason, which disturbed me feeling they had something to hide but the money offer at a time I needed it was greater than my curiosity and quite frankly I didn't care to meet them.  I think Galiano was designing and new ownership since Balenciaga died in 1968.  Why would I care meeting any one else?

I was given a rounf trip air ticket from NYC to Soeul plus accommodation during my stay at the Royal Hotel in downtown Soeul, very luxurious and near by ILBO, the company contracted by all the Paris fashion housed to print their silk scarves for women plus silk ties for men.  

Although ILBO's offices and design studio was ultra modern the silkscreen printing factory was as primitive in a slum of an industrial park as anyone could imagin, but the Korean boys, all perhaps 16 to 17 years old, basically either somec with loin cloth or just totally naked, were expert at printing under these hell like conditions.

I couldn't imagine how they did it so perfecyly in this severe heat with blazing fires, steam like clouds and young naked men writhing among the flames in a dark laborinthine cave under ground.  If there was a hell then this was it.  I got used to it and found it so profound I couldn't be more than impressed.

 Most of the time was preparing the screens which ther were at least 100 so printing didn't start for a month. When the first samples were printed, before I saw them, I was ordered to return to NYC.  I called back claiming I had to review the samples and select out those of best quality printing, Quality control, but Balenciaga informed the President of ILBO to make certain I was on the next plane and my Hotel accomdation canceled.  I decided to pack up and disappear in Soeul. which wasn't easy.

The Crocus Print 

by 

TZAIMS LUKSUS

I made three new friends at ILBO.  The head stylist designer and her husband who was a manager and the chauffeur for the president and a Japanese silk designer that was working for a Japanese firm in Tokyo but printing at ILBO.  My Korean couple took me on a bus and headed to their workers housing building outside Soeul and hid me since it wasn't't allowed for foreigners to live among the people.  His mother lived with them and I slept on the floor in their living room.  I loved it all and every morning we took the bus and I got off at a Korean cafe and donut shop and they went to the office at 8:00AM. I sauntered in about 11:00AM with the president and head manager looking at me crosseyed.  They couldn't prevent me checking and sorting out the production but were curious where I wss staying but never asking.

Burmese Royal Clothing 

What they didn't know was if I didn't remain there the plan that Balenciaga and Vi Stasio had planned was not to pay them after delivery in NYC.  My staying protected them but also had I left I would have been blamed for non payment since Balenciaha planned for me not being paid as well.

My contract gave me $7,500.00USD for my services, plus room and board, air tandravel.  So when I didn't return as ordered my $7,500 was cancelled notigying me it was for my hotel bill so all I had was in my pocket and my return flight.  Perfect.

One day,  on a Sunday, Jai Hyuk informed me that his boss was coming to visit them which was something he never did so my bags were packed up and they and I were taken to a relative far ftom their apartment.  Their boss invited himself smiling to go through every room and closet according to Jai Hyuk, searching for me and my luggage.  Nothing so that evening I retuurned.

We had a great time clubbing together, drinking beer and fresh fruit with the Japanese guy at his favorite dance club, VENGENCE,with nude boys iin athletic acrobatic dance and acts with aged women pulling their husbands gian penises, and going to steam baths and just having the greastest time, going to Jai Hyuk's elderly father's farm dining and visiting Buddhist shrines.

I also had a friend living there, a master ceramics artist and, well I will continue this later after I edit what I just wrote.  

More photos coming too.

Burmese Royal Clothing