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Zoe Suen

Launched by Hong Kong native Claire Robertson-Macleod in 2019, Tank Air has cultivated a fervent following among young women thanks to its sultry sculpting separates that recall 1990s and Y2K fashion while feeling modern and irreverent.
Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo are among the Los Angeles-based brand’s famous patrons.
Thai-English Robertson-Macleod grew up sourcing fabrics in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, for her aunt’s Thai fashion label. After studying in London and the United States, she moved to Bangkok but would frequent Hong Kong for sourcing trips.
It was when she moved to Los Angeles, however, that the brand took off and gained a cult following.

Tank Air’s tag line is “Quality clothing and ideas in service of the matriarchy”. How did you come up with the name and identity?
“So many people think it’s because of the tank tops but actually it’s an anagram of my cousin Katrina’s name.
“The brand has always been inspired by my mum and aunts. She’s one of four sisters so the Thai side of my family is very matriarchal. They’re so funny, they all have good style […] Tank Air is very much an embodiment of them and paying respect to them.
No Botox: this ageless-looking Asian TikTok star is 63. How does she do it?
“They paved the way for me to become who I am, and I want this brand to do the same for other girls.”
How would you describe the Tank Air look?
“I feel like the one common thread with Tank Air’s clothing is I try to make it functional, easy to wear. I want to put out clothes that people wear often.
“I love one-off pieces, and that’s why people love our essentials – they’re pieces you can wear over and over again.

“When it comes to making something a little bit Tank Air, I love to reference Thai culture but it’s so rich, so I try to reference it in subtle ways.
“With the Butterfly top and midi skirt, I was referencing some of my mum’s old Thai silk sarongs. But it’s not something I bring up often. It’s nice when people don’t know what the reference is.”
Where are Tank Air pieces produced?
“All the cutting and sewing is done in Los Angeles, but the knitwear is sampled in Hong Kong and produced in Shanghai. China is the best place for knitwear, the quality is unmatched.”
You’ve managed to cultivate a very engaged consumer base – “community” is so overused nowadays, but it’s that, for the lack of a better term. Did you do this consciously or did it just fall into place?
“It definitely didn’t just fall into place. The brand has seen a very slow and steady growth. A lot of the girls who are part of the community and are involved in Tank Air, whether they’re photographers or models, I have friendships with all of them. They’re not just working relationships.

“When I started Tank Air, I really had no connections. Obviously, my aunt has a brand in Thailand but it’s a very old one; I was just building it from the ground up really slowly.
“I always say Tank Air is the slowest growing brand in the world, but that’s been the best thing for us, because I’ve managed to create this community, as you said, for the lack of a better term.”
Your pieces have been spotted on the likes of Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo. How has this changed the business?
“It definitely helped with brand awareness, and I think we got lucky because we had a big celebrity wear one of our essentials, and typically they wear unattainable editorial pieces.
How Taiwanese label Shiatzy Chen became a Paris Fashion Week regular
“I know our essentials aren’t the most affordable either, but compared with runway pieces and archive pieces, they’re much more accessible.
“That really helped put our essentials on the map, which gave us a bit more financial freedom to design more creative, more emotional pieces.”
What are your goals for the brand? Are there any people you dream of dressing?
“Our goal is to continue growing slowly and not do anything me or my team wouldn’t be able to actually manage. One side of growing a clothing company is, as you start to put out bigger orders, managing quality and making sure it stays the same is a huge part of what we do.
“And for celebrities I’d love to see in Tank Air, I’d say Rihanna, Lisa from Blackpink, and [American rapper] Sexyy Red.”


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Fashion

Tank Air: worn by Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo, the story behind the brand and its sultry sculpting separates

A look from Tank Air’s spring/summer 2023 Essentials collection. The womenswear brand counts Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo among its celebrity fans.

A look from Tank Air’s spring/summer 2023 collection.

Tank Air founder Claire Robertson-Macleod.

Taiwanese vegan skincare brand Nomel’s founder, Tony Yang’s wife Melinda Wang, on making products for Asian skin and her confidence-building philosophy

Nomel’s hero product is its Sincere Hybrid Boosting Oil, which is a light and absorbent face oil formulation that consists of 70 per cent oil and 30 per cent serum water. Photo: Nomel

Nomel, founded by actor Tony Yang’s model-influencer wife, Melinda Wang (above), is a Taiwanese skincare brand offering products designed for Asian skin. Wang talks about making skincare the foundation of your confidence. Photo: Nomel

Wang says her background in fashion enabled her to understand more about what confidence means. Photo: Nomel

Nomel designs products specifically for Asian skin. Photo: Nomel

Nomel’s Simple Weightless Gel Cream contains cogon grass, ginkgo leaf and vitamin B5. Photo: Nomel

Nomel’s Sincere Hybrid Boosting Oil is a light and absorbent face oil formulation that consists of 70 per cent oil and 30 per cent serum water. Photo: Nomel

2023 sneaker trends: from Adidas and New Balance to Asics, On, Salomon and Roa, the hottest shoes right now and predictions for things to come

The Adidas x Gucci Gazelles are one of the most popular sneaker trends in 2023, having been given a boost by singer Harry Styles, who wore them throughout his 2022-23 tour. Photo: Adidas

The silver Adidas x Wales Bonner Sambas. Photo: Wales Bonner

The On Cloudmonster running sneakers. Photo: On Running

A style from the Sandy Liang x Salomon collaboration. Photo: Sandy Liang

A pair of clogs from the Salehe Bembury x Crocs Collaboration. Photo: Crocs

A take on its Boston mules from Birkenstock’s collaboration with streetwear brand Stussy. Photo: Birkenstock

Sneakers from the Kith x Asics collaboration. Photo: Asics

Kanye West’s 2008 Nike Air Yeezy 1 Grammy Prototype. Photo: Sotheby’s

‘Happy Halloween!’: Miss International Hong Kong 2023’s dress mocked online, reminds some of ‘Demon Slayer’ character

Miss International Hong Kong 2023 Verna Leung models the “national costume” to be worn at the event in Tokyo that was designed by seven students from the Hong Kong Design Institute. Some netizens say it reminds them of a character from the Japanese anime “Demon Slayer”. Photo: Facebook / @Miss International Hong Kong

Leung is a 25-year-old fashion model who also runs a pet food bakery. Photo: Facebook / @Miss International Hong Kong

Kyogai, also known as the Drum Demon, from the Japanese anime “Demon Slayer”. 

Designs for the costume, which was created by seven students from the Hong Kong Design Institute. Photo: Facebook / @Miss International Hong Kong

Miss Hong Kong 2023 winner Hilary Chong (centre) with first runner-up Lynn Wong (left) and second runner-up Lovelle Wang at the beauty pageant on August 27, 2023. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

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Launched by Hong Kong native Claire Robertson-Macleod in 2019, Los Angeles-based Tank Air has cultivated a fervent following among young women
Rihanna, Lisa from Blackpink, and American rapper Sexyy Red are among celebrities Robertson-Macleod would love to see in the brand


Launched by Hong Kong native Claire Robertson-Macleod in 2019, Tank Air has cultivated a fervent following among young women and counts Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo among its fans.


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Olivia Rodrigo

Tank Air: worn by Bella Hadid and Olivia Rodrigo, the story behind the brand and its sultry sculpting separates

Launched by Hong Kong native Claire Robertson-Macleod in 2019, Los Angeles-based Tank Air has cultivated a fervent following among young women Rihanna, Lisa from Blackpink, and American rapper Sexyy Red are among celebrities Robertson-Macleod would love to see in the brand

Launched by Hong Kong native Claire Robertson-Macleod in 2019, Los Angeles-based Tank Air has cultivated a fervent following among young women

Rihanna, Lisa from Blackpink, and American rapper Sexyy Red are among celebrities Robertson-Macleod would love to see in the brand