Anna Sui
NYC designer with a rock-and-roll, slightly gothic-romantic aesthetic. The bold uppercase 'ANNA SUI' wordmark with the slightly oversized 'SUI' is the constant marker.
- Origin
- USA
- Founded
- 1981
- Category
- High Fashion
- Documented eras
- 3
How Anna Sui labels evolved over time. Match the markers below against the tag in hand to place a garment in its era.
1990–1999
Black-Ground Italy-Made Tags
Bold serif 'Anna Sui' on black or dark grounds with contrasting white or light lettering, 'Made in Italy' usually on the side.
- Tags typically feature the name “Anna Sui” in bold, serif lettering.
- Some tags from this era may include “Sui” in a different font or size alongside “Anna Sui.”
- Often found on black or dark-colored tags with contrasting white or light lettering.
- Many tags from this period are rectangular and feature “Made in Italy” or other manufacturing information on the side.
How to spot it
Bold serif on a dark Italy-made tag.
Value signal
Strong; 90s Anna Sui is a sought collector era.
2000–2009
Modern Square Collab Tags
Square black tags with white or silver lettering, collaboration pieces like the Free People purple-bordered tags appearing, 'Made in China' or 'India'.
- The tags during this era often retained the bold “Anna Sui” lettering but began incorporating a more modern design.
- Square tags were still common, with black or dark backgrounds and white or silver lettering.
- In collaboration pieces, such as with “Free People,” the tags featured dual branding and a distinctive, colorful look, such as purple tags with ornate borders.
- Manufacturing details, like “Made in China” or “Made in India,” were frequently added beneath the main logo.
How to spot it
Square dark tag, sometimes a Free People collab.
Value signal
Solid; 2000s Anna Sui has steady demand.
2010–2019
Embossed Minimalist Tags
Streamlined minimalist designs, light grounds with subtle embossed logos, mixed fabric and glossy synthetic materials.
- Tags from the 2010s often had a more streamlined, minimalist design compared to earlier decades.
- Commonly used light backgrounds with subtle, embossed “Anna Sui” logos, giving a clean and modern aesthetic.
- Some tags also featured intricate designs or additional decorative elements, maintaining the brand’s whimsical and eclectic identity.
- The material of the tags varied, including both fabric and more synthetic, glossy materials, reflecting the contemporary fashion trends of the time.
How to spot it
An embossed light-ground tag.
Value signal
Modern; priced on the piece.