In her debut season, Spring/Summer 2013, Tia Cibani won the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award in women’s wear, honoring the best in emerging fashion talent. Born in North Africa and raised in Canada, Tia Cibani lived and worked for extensive periods in China. In 2004 she came to New York to relaunch Ports 1961, where as Creative Director she led the design team, oversaw a major retail expansion, and created a successful red carpet collection that dressed notable women of Hollywood and beyond. During New York Fashion Week in September 2012, Tia introduced her namesake brand, and was quickly named a new designer to watch by Style.com, Vogue Italia, and WWD.