TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Renowned Taiwanese fashion designer Isabelle Wen (溫慶珠) died peacefully Tuesday evening at the age of 69, according to a statement released by her company, Isabelle Wen Atelier.
The company expressed deep sorrow over the death of its founder and president, saying Wen dedicated her life to creating and developing Taiwanese fashion while taking pride in her role as a female fashion designer in Taiwan.
“Ms. Wen dedicated her life to the creation and management of Taiwanese fashion, filled with a passion for art and design, and taking pride in being a female fashion designer in Taiwan,” the statement said.
The company also thanked industry partners, department stores, and supporters for helping write “a beautiful chapter in Taiwan’s fashion industry.”
The company said Wen’s vision, passion, and dedication led to the establishment of her eponymous brand, which reflected her design philosophy and style through clothing, merchandise, and interior design. Following her death, the company’s operations and sales teams will continue as normal. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
Wen founded her brand in 1989 and became known for her glamorous, free-spirited, and dynamic “contrasting aesthetics.” She was recognized for combining delicate and rugged elements while blending Eastern artistic traditions with Western fashion concepts to create a distinctive style, per UDN.
Wen began studying art at age 17 under renowned Chinese master painter Ou Hao-nien (歐豪年). She later applied her artistic training to establish a fashion studio on Dihua Street in Taipei, expanding her creative work into interior design and the hospitality sector.
She later founded FiFi Tea & Wine Salon, which became a popular gathering place for artists and members of Taiwan’s fashion community, contributing to the development of the local creative scene. The Isabelle Wen brand currently operates 17 boutiques and two outlet stores across Taiwan.
