I was trying to manage school and training for the Olympics and ended up not doing well at either. That was a big lesson in my life. My mother expected both.

I think there's going to be a real push in the next two years in Asia - China and Korea specifically. And that's a huge undertaking. Ten years ago it was impossible to break into that part of the world. Some of the biggest companies in the world found it challenging. But I am Chinese-American and I think what we do will resonate in China. So that's where we see our biggest opportunities going forward. I do speak Mandarin and I also relate to the hunger that China has for culture and architecture and style.

Brides today are increasingly sensitive to the tastes, feelings and finances of their attendants.

Fashion offers no greater challenge than finding what works for night without looking like you are wearing a costume.

I wanted to define the vocabulary of a wedding both visually and intellectually. The book is about more than weddings or wedding dresses. It's a metaphor for women's lives, their creativity.

The intricate engraving, fine lines, beading and milgrain accents echo an era defined by elaborate embellishments.

I do speak Mandarin, and I also relate to the hunger that China has for culture and architecture and style.