Designed to Stand Out: Tanee Prasert's Journey as an F1 Fashion Student from Thailand to an O-1B Fashion Designer in the United States
For fashion designer Tanee Prasert, his love for fashion started at home in Thailand.
His mother was a seamstress who made school uniforms, so Tanee grew up watching her sew. As a child, he loved sketching women in beautiful clothes inspired by Thai television dramas. His mother would sometimes ask for his opinion on her designs, and they often watched Thai beauty pageants together and talked about the evening gowns.
His interest in fashion became even stronger when he discovered Gianni Versace.
“The true turning point came in middle school when I saw a Gianni Versace runway on a TV program called Fashion Update. I was absolutely mesmerized. My heart was racing.”
At the time, access to international fashion media in Thailand was limited, but Tanee researched as much as he could. He became fascinated by Versace’s bold colors, gold, crystals, Baroque details, and Greek Key patterns. Those influences would later become part of his own approach to design.
From Thailand to Los Angeles
Although Tanee loved fashion, pursuing it professionally was not always the obvious choice.
He first earned a degree in International Business Administration and started his career in tech marketing. His interest in fashion never went away, and he eventually began working as a wardrobe stylist for GMM Grammy. He later spent several years working in menswear in Thailand.
Eventually, Tanee decided to take his career in a new direction and move to Los Angeles.
He studied Fashion Design and Advanced Fashion Design at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). He later gained experience with fashion houses including Jonathan Simkhai, Trina Turk, and Adolfo Sanchez.
Starting over in Los Angeles came with its own challenges.
“LA’s fashion industry is incredibly fast-paced and highly competitive, which forced me to adapt quickly and work twice as hard.”
Over time, Tanee became more confident in his own point of view as a designer.
“The moment I truly felt I belonged was when I stopped trying to just ‘fit in’ and started trusting my own unique perspective.”
Building His Career in Fashion
As Tanee gained more experience in Los Angeles, he started working on projects that brought his designs to a much larger audience.
One of those opportunities came while working under Jonathan Simkhai. Tanee was asked to create a custom illustration for model Josephine Skriver’s 2019 Met Gala look for the event’s Camp: Notes on Fashion theme.
“The Met Gala is essentially the Super Bowl of fashion. What I remember most is the electric energy and the meticulous attention to detail required.”
For Tanee, the project showed him just how much detail goes into creating something for one of fashion’s biggest events.
His portfolio continued to grow from there. In 2022, he designed a Blue Princess Dress for Austrian actress and singer Lilo Baier. The gown combined chiffon, lace, and satin with techniques including draping, pattern drafting, and hand sewing.
Tanee’s work can look very different from one project to another, but his approach stays consistent.
“A great designer acts as a bridge. My core identity lies in my craftsmanship, attention to silhouette, and the emotional storytelling behind a garment.”
Another major project came when he created the “GOTHIC MATADOR” capsule collection for Kat Von D’s concert performances. The collection combined Gothic elements with inspiration from traditional Spanish matador clothing. Tanee used couture techniques such as tailoring, draping, pattern drafting, hand sewing, and detailed hand beading to bring the designs to life.
Creating clothing for a live performance also meant thinking about how each piece would look and move on stage.
“Stage design is a completely different beast because the garments need to perform just as hard as the artist.”
Seeing the finished collection on stage became one of his most memorable experiences.
“The moment the stage lights hit the garments and moved with the music, the sketches truly came alive. It was unforgettable.”
A New Milestone
As his career continued to grow, Tanee noticed a change in the opportunities coming his way. He began taking the lead on projects, and clients and brands started approaching him specifically for his creative direction.
“Being entrusted to lead a collection is the ultimate form of professional recognition.”
In September 2026, Tanee reached another important milestone when his O-1B petition was approved.
For Tanee, receiving the approval was also a chance to reflect on the years of work that brought him to this point.
“It meant absolute validation. As an international artist, the journey is filled with sacrifices, self-doubt, and relentless hard work.”
The O-1B process required him to look back at his work and creative contributions throughout his career. For someone who is usually focused on the next project, taking the time to review everything he had accomplished gave him a different perspective
“As creatives, we are always looking at the next mountain to climb, rarely pausing to look at the view.”
Looking back at his sketches, runway work, collaborations, and other projects reminded him just how much had happened since his career first began in Thailand.
“It gave me a profound sense of pride and renewed my confidence for the future.”
For Tanee, the O-1B approval represents an exciting new chapter and the opportunity to continue building his creative career in the United States.
Looking Ahead
Tanee is already thinking about what comes next.
His immediate focus is working as a Lead Designer for an upcoming New York Fashion Week 2027 project. In the future, he hopes to collaborate with iconic American fashion houses and eventually establish his own namesake brand in the United States.
He also has a message for other international creatives who are trying to build their careers in the U.S.
“Never underestimate the value of your unique cultural perspective. Be prepared to work harder than you dream, stay resilient in the face of rejection, and build genuine relationships.”
After building a career across Thailand and the United States, his final advice is simple:
“Talent opens the door, but perseverance keeps you in the room.”
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Website: https://www.taneeprasert.com/about
Email: taneeprasert@gmail.com
Editor: Michaeline stephanie
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