Tina Chow was born in 1950 in Ohio. Her father was of German descent and her mother hailed from Japan. In the 1960’s, the family moved to Japan where Chow attended school. There she was recruited by a modeling agency and became the face of Shiseido Cosmetics. In the 1970’s, her modeling career blossomed and she became a fashion icon known for her unique style mixing ‘high and low’ fashion. Issey Miyake and Yves St. Laurent cited her as a muse for their designs, she was photographed by Cecil Beaton and painted by Andy Warhol.

In the 1980’s, Chow designed jewelry collections that were sold in high end boutiques in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Paris. Nature was a source of inspiration, incorporating bamboo and raw crystals into her designs. She was an early proponent of the healing properties of crystals, including raw crystals and rock crystals in her designs. Asymmetry, simplicity and sleek forms are hallmarks of Tina Chow jewelry, further showcasing the influence from her Japanese heritage on her design aesthetic. 

Tina Chow was an important cultural icon of the 1970’s and 1980’s, with influence in the art, fashion and jewelry worlds.