For Gargyle founders Nhung Nguyen and Don Vu (pictured), creating style might not be about needles and thread, but they still have a sharp eye. Design:Related recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with them about what inspired their freshly curated online boutique and showroom.

After working for seven years selling medical equipment, Nhung was laid off. For most people, this would be an unfortunate event. For Nhung and Don however, this meant a severance package and an opportunity to finally do what they had been talking about for ages—starting their own gig.

“We've always wanted to work together on a business we believed in, and after years of working for big “Corporate America” in jobs that most wouldn‘t call fulfilling, we got lucky.”

Evenings and weekends were where Nhung found creative solace. Whether it was taking a night class at FIT, throwing a dinner party, creating a dress, or building shelves, Nhung looked for ways to find her outlet.

Her creative eye and passion for fashion design was complimented by her husband Don’s talent and experience in web development and online marketing.

“We wanted to share our vision with a global audience, so putting our store online made sense ... Whereas many online boutiques are a supplement to their bricks and mortar shop, Gargyle is the reverse. We set up our DUMBO showroom to complement our website because we understand that sometimes people just want to try things on”.


Behind the Concept

“We had a romanticized vision of country clubs of yesteryear, one where people played tennis in the morning, had tea and crumpets in the afternoon, and dinner at the club in the evening ... all while dressed to the nines for each occasion.”