‘Bling Empire’ Star and Designer Lynn Ban Dies in New York City
Lynn Ban, a designer, fashion enthusiast and cast member of the Netflix series “Bling Empire: New York,” died Monday in New York City.
Her son Sebastian announced her death on Instagram.
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Ban had suffered a brain bleed from a skiing accident on Christmas Eve in Aspen and had undergone surgery as a result in recent weeks.
Ban, a Tribeca resident, was found unconscious and unresponsive Monday afternoon in Manhattan near Warren Street and West Street, after the New York City Police Department responded to a 911 call. In turn, EMS then responded to the scene and pronounced the female “in her 50s” dead, according to a NYPD spokesperson.
The cause of death will be determined by New York City’s medical examiner. “There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing,” according to the NYPD spokesperson, who declined to identify the deceased, pending proper family notification.
Ban’s husband Jett Kain, who worked with her in her namesake company, could not be reached immediately on Wednesday.
Born in Singapore, Ban came to New York at the age of 4. That coming-to-America story was one of the reasons she wanted to join the Netflix series. “I wanted to share my story of how I immigrated here, worked my way up, and navigated being an Asian mother, wife and designer in the fashion industry, balancing work and my home life,” she told WWD in 2022.
Her on-air wardrobe — which was all her own — included Ala?a, Thierry Mugler, Chanel, Versace, Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, Junya Watanabe, Maison Margiela and more. Ban wasn’t blinded by fashion though and believed that the most important fashion trend is to be yourself. “It’s not all about labels and logos,” she once said.
Her love of pop culture and music, as well as high fashion and illustrations, ran deep. Her Tribeca apartment was sprinkled with fashion illustrations by Antonio Lopez and Tony Viramontes, as well as original Yves Saint Laurent ones from his Christian Dior days. An avid thrift store shopper, the designer once said she was “a crazy shopper of fashion, beauty, workout wear, food and vintage.” Ban would scope out the best vintage stores in every city and country that she visited, and then that outpost would be the first stop on her to-do list. Her vintage archive was so impressive that she once lent Rihanna a John Galliano-designed kimono for a Manolo Blahnik advertising campaign.
After retailing vintage, Ban started her own business in 2011 and racked up celebrity clients like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Nicki Minaj. The designer first teamed up with Rihanna in 2013 for her “Diamonds World Tour,” and she also created custom pieces for the Grammy winner’s Fenty Puma line.
Her personal style and design ethos were consistent. She explained to WWD in 2018, “You either love it or hate it, but you have to have a strong feeling about it and not just ‘eh.’ There’s too much ‘eh’ out there.”
High style was everyday attire for Ban whether that be a Balenciaga money dress for a casual Tuesday look, or Saint Laurent or Gucci pieces to wear on the slopes skiing. Playing tennis, surfing, diving, taking hip-hop dance classes, jazz and thrifting were among her other interests. A self-described “closeted concierge,” Ban made researching hotels, resorts, experiences, and restaurants a sport in itself.
The designer Brian Atwood, who became fast friends with her after meeting in a hip-hop dance class 10 years ago, said Wednesday, “Besides all the fashion, fabulousness and wonderful taste, Lynn had this ferocious way of living. She loved life, and she loved enjoying it. Looking back today, she really packed in so much in. Most people don’t get to experience as much as Lynn lived in her 50-plus years.”
Ban posted about the fragility of life, in sharing the details of her accident on Instagram.
“And in a blink of an eye…life can change,” she wrote. She described the ski accident that she had had, during a family vacation, on Christmas Eve “on a beautiful sunny day.” Ban said that while skiing at the top of the mountain, she had caught the tip of one of her skis and “face planted.” The designer posted, “Luckily I always wear a helmet.”
Although the designer said it didn’t seem that bad at that time, she wanted to get checked out by the ski patrol for a concussion. After an assessment, she said she “was cleared.” Ban said she had “a bit of a headache,” but thought that after lunch she would be fine and would be able to ski again. At a paramedic’s suggestion, she went to the emergency room for a CAT scan, and found out that she had a brain bleed.
Aspen Snowmass did not respond to a media request Wednesday seeking comment about Ban’s accident.
Having known Ban over a period of many years, the fashion designer Dennis Basso said, “She was always a cheerful, stylish, and energetic gal.”
As Ban told WWD in 2022, “When you’re wearing a look that puts a smile on someone’s face and where you feel powerful and strong, it hits all the right notes. Fashion is an extension of who I am.”
In addition to her husband and son, Ban is survived by other family members whose names were not immediately known.
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