In 1978, Betty Tung saw a gap in the market for a more glamorous take on skiwear. An engineer and athlete, with expertise in clothing production thanks to her father’s manufacturing business, Betty understood exactly what was missing from the marketplace. Performance lines offered durability, but their cuts were boxy and unflattering, while style-focused brands were priced out of reach for most. Betty was motivated to fill the gap and FERA was born.
FERA was originally inspired by the golden era of skiing in the 1960s, a time when skiers dressed to conquer the slopes in style. Clothes needed to go from the mountain to the après scene seamlessly, and the aspirational sport evoked a certain glamour and mystique. Betty wanted to capture that fabulous spirit with a beautifully tailored, well-priced line that was designed to turn heads.
A pioneer in the ski industry, Betty was one of the few female and Asian founders in the male-dominated winter-sports world. Determined to succeed and stand out, Betty harnessed her unique perspective and expertise to focus on impeccable fit and fabric technology. She relied on her industry knowledge to create pieces that were light yet warm, designed to seamlessly move with the body. She spent years fine-tuning her line, making pants sleeker, jackets more stunning, avoiding gimmicks, and always adding gorgeous details.
40 years after Betty Tung founded FERA, her children Patty and Eric are now leading the family-owned line. The siblings got their start at FERA as kids, modeling at trade shows, packing boxes, and testing out gear. Their mother and grandfather taught them the craft, pride, and attention to detail that goes into making FERA products truly exceptional. Before leading FERA, Eric had a successful career as a financial analyst and business development executive, while Patty worked in senior roles in finance and media. In the early 2000s both returned to the brand ready to lead it into its next chapter.
FERA today, is a coveted independent winter fashion brand, known for their perfect-fitting, modern skiwear. The Southern-California based brand’s effortlessly cool SoCal take on style has earned raves from Self, Powder, and Vogue magazines. From hip ski pants to sexy bibs, from cheeky sweaters to glamorous jackets—FERA is as fabulous as ever taking you from the streets to the slopes.