Finding Refuge in Fashion: Minh Ta

Born, raised and educated in Saigon, Việt Nam, Minh Ta, her husband Au, and daughter Lily fled their homeland in early 1977, shortly after the Communist takeover.

After a perilous journey aboard one of Au’s cargo boats, the family arrived in Thailand where they spent eight months in a refugee camp before heading to Aotearoa / New Zealand and settling in Heretaunga / Hastings. It was here Minh launched her very successful fashion house, Minh Ta Designs in 1985. Minh Ta’s attention to detail and extraordinary talent for design, led her to succeed locally then nationally in the fashion world. Winning several “Benson & Hedges Fashion Design” awards motivated her move to Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland where she gained further acclaim for her “Fashion in the Field” garments.

Minh Ta built a reputation based on award winning, elegant and stylish garments, recognisable by their intricate detail and fine finishing, cementing her place in New Zealand’s fashion history.