An example is found in her Crackle Finish Box Shaped Top, shown above. The piece, from Teng’s Spring 2016 collection, is created with a zero-waste pattern, yielding no excess fabric. It features her signature construction and a silhouette that flatters while reflecting its designer’s inspirations, which include fine arts,
nature, and film. “My purpose,” Teng says, “is to clothe, enhance, empower, and delight.”
Of her resourceful methods, Teng says, “In my design, it is important that time and material, energy and economy, are factored in. Zero-waste practice includes creating multifunctional designs that can be worn everywhere for a long time.” This commitment has earned Teng a loyal clientele and accolades including a 2004
National Design Award from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and a place in the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.