There he collaborated with Telekom Malaysia to launch an exclusive 2002 phone card series, featuring four of his most treasured designs from previous collections.

Modeling the clothes is Malaysian supermodel Ling Tan. "I just had a great idea," Toi said about choosing Ling, whom he refers to as "the face of Malaysia." "She's been on my runways since 1991 and the outfits chosen are ones she wore."

Toi's favorite phone card displays an exotic design from his "Grand Soiree at Monte Carlo" Collection, featuring a side view of Ling sporting a dramatic up-do and wearing a black silk beaded paisley turtleneck and long skirt, extending an arm to reveal a draping black stole beneath. Inspired by the opulence of Monte Carlo, Toi believes this one epitomizes glam.

The other three cards feature designs from Toi's "My Dream of Africa," "Tiepolo's Africana Dreams," and "Afternoon at The Ritz" collections: an ivory sea-island wrap-shirt and ivory ombre khaki trousers (sewn with hornstones and accented with a trench belt), a beige and ivory Georgette strapless silk gown, and an ebony silk twinset with ivory beaded Louis XV borders and ebony Shantung silk pants with scalloped hems.

This fashion-meets-phonecard collaboration with Telekom Malaysia was initiated by Toi's brother, See Luon Toi, who runs two Zang Toi boutique-cafes in Kuala Lumpur. After being approached by an advertising rep, See Luon convinced the company -- which typically manufactures one collector's phone card series per year, with subjects ranging from important cultural monuments to sweeping landscapes -- that Toi's designs were similarly monumental.

"It took nearly three months to secure the go-ahead," said See Luon.

Then on December 27th, Toi launched the collector's-item cards himself at the House of Toi Café, in a Kuala Lumpur shopping center. Afterwards, he staged a small fashion show composed of pieces from his Spring 2002 collection for 150 guests.

A number much larger than 150 is being targeted with these cards, though - a whopping one million of each of the four cards are being sold in all Telekom Malaysia offices. And authorized vendors will sell limited edition cover packages including all four phone card designs, a booklet, and a Zang Toi tee.

Although Toi clearly enjoyed his long-overdue return to Malaysia, he says with a smile, "New York is my home, my adopted country." It's also where his Spring 2002 collection is scheduled to show on February 13th - showing that Zang Toi, while booming in Malaysia, isn't forgetting his second home.