HOUSTON, Texas –  Global fashion icon Vivienne Tam, originator of the East Meets West fashion movement, will be bringing her much lauded 2017 Spring/Summer collection for the first time to Houston. It will be available for purchase at local boutique Baanou through summer.

The Houston-themed collection, which pays homage to the city's vibrant culture, will arrive to Baanou at River Oaks District and be available for purchase through summer. It marks the first time the collection will be available at a U.S. storefront since Tam debuted her line on the runways of New York Fashion Week last year.

The designer will also be on hand for an exclusive meet-and-greet from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. May 4 at River Oaks District to showcase the collection and to celebrate several Houston-based brands that were specifically woven into the designs, including the Houston Ballet, NASA, Pondicheri, Buffalo Bayou and more. There will also be live entertainment, with music by Cactus Music and performances from Outspoken Bean, Project Row Houses, in addition to light bites and refreshments from Good Dog Houston, Pondicheri and St. Arnold's Brewery.

“We're looking forward to welcoming Vivienne Tam and we're proud that Baanou at River Oaks District has been chosen as the exclusive location to find her acclaimed collection here in Houston,” said Jennifer Rivera, marketing manager for River Oaks District.

The all-things Houston collection features an eclectic mix of 45 looks, from “Eastern cowboy” to Mexican flower dresses, NASA-influenced metallic jackets and white suits and even logos from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Local Houston wildlife, flora and fauna are highlighted as well, including armadillos, pink spoonbills, cattle skulls, blue bonnets and Indian paintbrushes. A few of the more unique items incorporate logos from Pondicheri, Mongoose vs. Cobra and even Rice University's owl mascot.

Mike Waterman, President of Visit Houston, challenged local Houston creative agency Asian Wives Club/WOND3R to help share his love of Houston on a global scale. With the agency's decade-long relationship with Vivienne Tam, the idea to create the world's first fashion tourism campaign was born. Vivienne's Houston-inspired collection, meant to showcase the diversity and inclusiveness of Houston – has also headlined the 2016 Beijing InStyle China Expo. The collection can be viewed online and is available at select stores in New York, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Manila, Singapore and now, Houston.

Additionally, the collection has been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Nylon Magazine. It's also been featured in advertising campaigns for Cathay Pacific and Motorola.

River Oaks District Houston's professional tourism team, including a China Specialist, markets the property worldwide as part of a strategic international tourism plan. The property welcomes thousands of international travelers throughout the year, especially Chinese visitors who love to shop luxury brands.

In addition to Vivienne Tam's collection being sold in Baanou at River Oaks District, the store will accept payment by Chinese guests utilizing their China UnionPay card, Alipay or WeChat pay. Baanou is one of the first retailers to accommodate these new technologies for payment in the Houston area.

River Oaks District also offers a new Global Access program to visitors which provides special offers, amenities and experiences from participating retailers and restaurants including complimentary car service or valet parking, package deliver to nearby hotels, beauty services, fittings and alterations, gifts with purchase and more, including complimentary personal shopping and stylist assistance.

About the 2017 Vivienne Tam x Houston Collection

-Partnership between Vivienne Tam and Visit Houston

-Delivered 1.6 billion global impressions in over 200 Articles

-Notable stories included, 23 country editions of Vogue, Elle, The Verge, Fox Business News, Fashion Television

-Featured logos from over 10 iconic Houston brands including, Houston Rodeo, Rice University, Cactus Music, St. Arnold's Brewery, Pondicheri, NASA, Buffalo Bayou.

-Influences included the tastes of Kuu Restaurant, the art of Mark Flood at the Contemporary Art Museum Houston and La Pulga 59 market.

About Vivienne Tam

Vivienne Tam was honored by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 25 Chinese-Americans in Business as an international designer known for her culture-bridging, East-Meets-West approach to design as well as pioneering global collaborations with HP, Disney, Beats, Mandarin Oriental and WeChat. A CFDA Award Winner and Member and one of Time Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People, her work is in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum and the Andy Warhol Museum. Vivienne presented the Houston Collection while receiving her lifetime achievement award at the 2016 China InStyle Expo.

About Visit Houston

Visit Houston – or the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau – is a division of the HoustonFirst Corporation and is the primary sales and marketing arm of the city. Visit Houston is tasked with helping the economy by attracting people to the city through sponsorship, special events, advertising, public and media relations, promotions, web site and collateral development.

About River Oaks District

Managed by Oliver McMillan, River Oaks District is a shopping, dining and entertainment destination like no other in Texas. Situated inside the Houston Loop, River Oaks District features an elegant streetscape with more than 60 of the most sought-after luxury storefronts and brands in the world, including Akris, Canali, Cartier, COS, Dior, Giuseppe Zanotti, Harry Winston, Hermès, NARS, Stella McCartney and Tom Ford, among others. Acclaimed restaurants and entertainment venues include Steak 48, Le Colonial, Taverna Pizzeria & Risotteria, Toulouse Café & Bar, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, iPic Theaters and Equinox.

For more information, please visit http://www.riveroaksdistrict.com/