Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2014 | Page 63

Tibi styles feature contemporary, unique prints.

lives in New England with her family, Smilovic
“I loved growing up there,” she says of
Georgia. “The South is a unique place. People
are very warm, and I love the beauty of it. The
marsh, the rivers, the hanging moss and the
scent of pine straw remind me of home.”
Her travels have allowed her the opportu
nity of seeing what various cultures have to
offer and how people are affected by both
their upbringing and their surroundings.
Global exposure also has helped Smilovic to

Amy Wallin Smilovic partnered with Octavia Hyland to launch the clothing line Tibi.

AMY WALLIN SMILOVIC
FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR, TIBI
Growing up on St. Simons Island, off the
scenic Georgia coast, Amy Smilovic was
surrounded by creativity. Both her father and
grandfather were artists, and Smilovic’s talent
for drawing became apparent at an early
catching ensembles. She went on to attend
the University of Georgia, then pursued
advertising at Ogilvy & Mather in Atlanta and
American Express in New York City. Smilovic
and her husband moved to Hong Kong in 2007
when he was transferred for work. While

there, she applied her creative gifts to the
launch of her own clothing line, partnering
with another American living abroad, Octavia
Hyland. The result was Tibi, named after
Hyland’s grandmother.
The duo traveled frequently to Indonesia,
working closely with small textile printers to
create fabrics with vivid colors and unique
prints. The contemporary line quickly caught
on and the collection now sells around the
world, with Tibi styles seen on celebrities
from Michelle Williams to Heidi Klum and
Angelina Jolie.
Though she’s traveled the globe and now

relaxed and feminine with modern lines, and
simplicity that’s still luxurious—never fussy
and never overwrought.
“I always want things to have a relaxed
air about them,” she explains. “I think you
should feel comfortable and chic in what
you’re wearing, so everything I do has a bit of
ease about it without ever being sloppy.”
Confessing that she’s also a bit obsessed
with menswear and tailoring, Smilovic tends
to shop at men’s stores for oversized blazers
and sweaters, or pants that can be belted and
rolled up.
“It’s because of this that I love mixing in
something drapey and feminine,” Smilovic
says. “I think a bit of contradiction is always
important; otherwise, a look can become very

oversized menswear tailored coat.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2014 | SEA ISL AND LIFE 63

SI3_Designers-e_v6-e_v7-e.indd 63

3/10/14 9:17 AM