United Bamboo S/S '09 women's wear went down the runway during New York Fashion Week at the Altman Building. Backstage, co-designer Thuy Pham, shown here, was talking about an "optimistic" world view and lightening the United Bamboo perspective for S/S.

Along with co-designer Miho Aoki, United Bamboo is known for design twists. But this season was distinctly untwisted, pretty and only slightly geometric. Some highlights included a multi-paneled santin/charmeuse dress, pleated (aka ruched) details and a straight-forward, seasonal palette.