Paris Fashion Week has just finished and although I wasn't able to get out there myself, I was able to do a spot of designer stalking with one of the designers who were exhibiting.
Son Chu is a very talented designer who graduated from the Academy of Fashion and
Design (AMD) with a BA in fashion design womenswear. No surprises he received the 'Best
Graduate Award 2014' in fashion design for his undergraduate studies and
graduate collection 'POLYGON'. During his studies Son worked for the incredible Mary Katrantzou. Son Chu’s work is based on craftmanship, experimental fabric manipulation, use of new materials
and innovative digital printed fabrics. He is definitely one to watch. I caught up with him as he was preparing for fashion week!
What do
you do and what do you love about your job?
I
recently started up my own brand SON CHU, which focuses on womenswear clothing. I love it because working in such a creative way and there are no visual boundaries. As a fashion designer you must handle with different tasks at the same
time such as do research for the next collection concept, draw sketches, make
patterns, sewing toiles, telephone conversations, answering emails and so on –
all these are challenging responsibilities I have to take daily, but I love it.
What
are your influences?
My work
is inspired by nature, science, architecture, paintings, music, movies and
literature. But also my multicultural background and cultural ethnicity inspire
me.
How did you get into fashion? And what has been the most challenging aspect of starting up your own brand?
When I was a child I was so keen to do handicrafts especially paper figures. I was fascinated about how to create three dimensional objects from only a flat piece of paper by using a scissor and a little drops of glue. Later on, I did photography and I admire the artistic staging and storytelling fashion pictures by Tim Walker. So I decided to explore the crazy and fascinating world of fashion by studying it intensivley at a fashion academy.
The most challenging aspect of starting my brand was actually to have the courage to the first step towards economic independence. But if you do not try and take a risk, you will never know about your personal success as a fashion designer.
If you
could live in an up and coming fashion city where would it be and why?
There
are several cities which I would be interested to live, but the most important attribute
a city worth living should have are the symbiosis of opend minded people,
tolerance, cultural events, arts, music and nature.
How would
you describe your approach to
fashion?
My
approach is to find a balance between commerce and creativity in order to find
a compromise between a wearable style and contemporary-avantgardistic design.
So in my latest collection POLYGON I created three-dimensional geometrical structures
on the surface of the garments by applying complex handmade-smocking
techniques. So this handcraft in the combination of digitial prints and high-quality
material mixes made of pure new wool, silk or cotton can add individuality to
each and every garment oft the collection
Who are your favourite designers?
There are so many legendary designers I admire due to their visual virtuosity, for example Issey Miyake and Ann Demeulemester. They are briliant.
Images courtesy of Son Chu
What
five items could you not live without?
My
cellphone, to have a direct line to my family.
My
toothbrush, to have a good smile every day
paper
and pen to organise my thoughts and ideas and last but not least my lucky-coin
from my little niece.
STALK THE STALKER ON
wow i love this
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great young talent! I'm in love with the white and blue mosaic maxi dress!
ReplyDeleteBella Pummarola
His work seems to be amazing!
ReplyDeletexxo
@addictionfix
His stuff are insane and definitely exude a Parisian chic with an edge.
ReplyDeletewww.primpedandprimed.blogspot.com