Tadashi Shoji was recognized for his artistic talent at an early age, and apprenticed with Jiro Takamatsu, who was one of Japan's leading artists.
He moved to the United States to study art, and became interested in fashion design. While still a student, he worked for costume designer Bill Whitten, and created designs for music icons including Sir Elton John, the Jackson 5, and Neil Diamond.
After graduation, he was working for a fashion designer when he decided to set out on his own, focusing on dresses for special occasions. He opened his design house in 1982.
In 2006, he branched out into home accessories.