Alumni stories

Robby Tjia’s rise in fashion

Design, Architecture and Building

Robby Tjia’s rise in fashion

From sewing struggles to global fashion stages

Robby recalls the moment he learned that Michelle Obama, on a state visit to Japan, had worn a dress he designed for Kenzo’s ready-to-wear collection.

“I was like, ‘whoa, you made it!’” he says, laughing at the memory.

It’s just one highlight in a career that has seen the Indonesian-born designer tick off milestone after milestone, from an internship at Alexander McQueen in London to award-winning collections, postgraduate study in Paris and six years designing womenswear at Kenzo.

Highlights

From: Indonesia

Inspiration: the energy of global fashion, cultural storytelling, and turning challenges into creative opportunities

Study path:

  • Diploma of Design & Architecture (UTS College)
  • Bachelor of Design (UTS)
  • Master’s in Fashion (Institut Français de la Mode, Paris)
 

Career path:

  • Internship, Alexander McQueen, London
  • Designer, Balenciaga, Paris
  • Womenswear designer, Kenzo, Paris
  • Senior womenswear designer, Chloé, Paris

Now:

  • Design director at Isabel Marant in Paris,
  • Robby leads creative vision and oversees womenswear collections, blending the brand’s signature style with fresh, innovative designs that resonate globally.
 

Fun fact:
Robby almost gave up sewing after his first class, but now designs for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses.

Starting out at UTS College

Before his name appeared on Paris catwalks, Robby began his creative journey with a Diploma of Design & Architecture at UTS College. The program gave him the skills and academic pathway to continue his studies in fashion at UTS.

When he arrived in Sydney, Robby had no sewing skills at all. “I almost cried by the end of the first sewing class,” he admits.

His teacher told him to buy a sewing machine, practise at home and come to class an hour early. By the end of the year, he had scored the highest mark in the class. “It’s a good story for me to tell now, but at that time it was very stressful,” he says.

It was very intense, very busy, and I wanted to learn everything. I was really excited about going to work.

First big break in London

Robby’s first major opportunity came during a UTS Study Exchange to the University of Westminster in London, where he secured an internship with British fashion icon Alexander McQueen.

“It was very intense, very busy, and I wanted to learn everything. I was really excited about going to work,” he says.

During his time in London, he also won a Lancôme competition, taking home the “Modern Femininity Award” for designs he was still sketching on the plane just two days before the deadline.

Paris calling

After graduating from UTS, Robby moved to Paris to complete a master’s degree in fashion at Institut Français de la Mode. There, he won a competition against other Paris fashion school students with his collection, and came second in a Gucci challenge to design an environmentally friendly bag.

Following his final presentations, luxury fashion house Balenciaga offered him a job. Just 18 months later, he joined Kenzo, contributing to the brand’s creative revamp and designing womenswear for the global stage.

A new chapter at Isabel Marant

Today, Robby serves as Design Director at Isabel Marant in Paris – a notable progression from his previous senior role at Chloé and a reflection of his evolving influence within the fashion industry.

In this position, he helps define the creative direction of the label, infusing Isabel Marant’s signature aesthetic with his own innovative vision. The role brings him ever closer to his long-term ambition of taking on a creative director-level role – or even launching his own label in the future. His journey continues to be an inspiring testament to ambition, adaptability, and creative excellence.