ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Tibi Founder Amy Smilovic on Redefining Success and Entrepreneurship

other · 2026-09-07

In her book 'Almost Reckless: A Creative and Pragmatic Approach to Taking Risks', Amy Smilovic, the founder of Tibi, imparts valuable insights from her entrepreneurial journey. Established in Hong Kong in 1997, Tibi faced significant challenges during the pandemic, prompting Smilovic to redefine success by creating garments she is passionate about and fostering direct connections with customers. The brand has transformed a 12-bedroom townhouse in Mayfair, London, into a space for styling consultations. Prioritizing personal relationships over conventional merchandising, Smilovic underscores her belief in agency. After nearly shutting down in 2020, Tibi's sales plummeted from $70 million to $25 million. She inspires entrepreneurs to carve their own paths to success and embrace their creativity. Monocle published the article detailing her philosophy.

Key facts

  • Amy Smilovic founded Tibi in Hong Kong in 1997.
  • Tibi has taken over a 12-bedroom townhouse in London's Mayfair for styling appointments.
  • Smilovic's new book is titled 'Almost Reckless: A Creative and Pragmatic Approach to Taking Risks'.
  • Tibi came close to shutting down in 2020.
  • The company downscaled from $70m to $25m in gross sales.
  • Smilovic defines her core principle as agency.
  • She no longer employs a merchandiser at Tibi.
  • The book includes a chapter called 'Lead with a compass, not a GPS'.

Entities

Artists

  • Amy Smilovic

Institutions

  • Tibi
  • Monocle

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Mayfair
  • Hong Kong

Sources