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HOUSTON, May 13, 2025 — Asia Society Texas joyfully launched its inaugural Runway to Asia fashion luncheon at the chic Post Oak Hotel, inspiring guests with a spectacular celebration of fashion, culture, and friendship! This extraordinary new initiative honors the artistic vision and global influence of Asian and Asian American designers, while spotlighting Texas-based talent shaping the industry in bold and innovative ways. At the heart of the inaugural event were two trailblazing designers – Houston’s own Danny Nguyen and international fashion icon Zang Toi — whose masterful creations took center stage in a show that celebrated identity, heritage, and the power of design to transcend borders.

Event co-chairs Leigh Smith, Shazia Sultan, and Phoebe Tudor led the afternoon of elegance, where over 300 guests gathered for a delicious three-course luncheon before being treated to a breathtaking runway show and awards ceremony.

As guests arrived, the ballroom foyer was abuzz as models previewed Danny Nguyen’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection from elegant pedestals, setting the tone for a journey through rich traditions and contemporary artistry. Guests also perused exciting raffle prizes including a luxurious Hill Country getaway, custom shopping experiences with the honorees, and coveted tickets to Zang Toi’s Fall 2026 runway show in New York.

Former KHOU 11 anchor Rekha Muddaraj served as MC and welcomed guests into the ballroom, followed by heartfelt remarks from Asia Society Texas President Bonna Kol, who delightedly shared Runway to Asia’s role in AST’s mission to uplift and celebrate the diversity of Asia through dynamic cultural programming.

AST Director of Performing Arts and Culture Michael Buening thanked the event’s sponsors and Fashion Presenter Saks Fifth Avenue while highlighting the event’s success in raising over $300,000 to support over 20 annual performing arts and cultural experiences.

After the luncheon, Leigh Smith set the stage for the main event, expressing her excitement to celebrate the artistry and innovation of Zang Toi and Danny Nguyen while noting the power of fashion to express our cultural heritage and traditions. The awards ceremony began with Shazia Sultan presenting the Texas Trendsetter Award to Danny Nguyen, praising his ability to weave traditional elegance into avant-garde silhouettes that push fashion’s boundaries. Phoebe Tudor then honored Zang Toi with the first Global Icon Award, chronicling his remarkable journey from Malaysia to the world’s top fashion runways and the pages of Vogue.

In a grand finale, guests enjoyed Zang Toi’s Fall/Winter 2025 Opulence of the Orient Express collection, featuring 37 spellbinding looks ranging from Ottoman-inspired caftans to couture suits and coats and finishing with show-stopping evening dresses and gowns. Each look transported the audience along a couture journey inviting Houston’s fashion-forward community to embrace fashion as a living expression of identity, unity, and global connection.

In addition to the honorees and event leadership, special guests included Sushila Agrawal, Nancy Allen, Fady Armanious, Kristy Bradshaw, Divya Brown, Tripp Carter, Theresa Chang, Anne Chao, Molly Crownover, Kari Dagley, Chloe Dao, Debbie Festari, Kathy and Marty Goossen, Brigitte Kalai, Mandy Kao, Sippi Khurana, Karen Kwok, Teri Lee, Kelley Lubanko, Christy Lynn, Petra Martinez, Sneha Merchant, Duyen Nguyen, Cabrina Owsley, Akemi Saitoh, Miya Shay, Sue and Randy Sim, Shawn Stephens, Y. Ping Sun, Ileana Trevino, Janae Tsai, Stephanie Tsuru, Heidi Turney, and Asha Virani.

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About Runway to Asia

Runway to Asia honors Asian and Asian American visionaries on the global fashion scene alongside Texas-based innovators – celebrating fashion as a powerful artistic medium for cultural expression, representation, and identity. Featuring designers Zang Toi and Danny Nguyen in the inaugural year, the event’s proceeds will support Asia Society Texas’ Performing Art and Culture public programs.

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.