South Korean menswear designer Kyung Hwa Kim is one of the bright stars for the future, she recently graduated top of her course with first class honors in Fashion design technology at the London college of fashion and won Asos's ltd 100 edition menswear award. I had the chance to interview her and got to know her a lot better.
What would you consider as your greatest achievement in your fashion career so far?I can't say one particular achievement. I am just happy to do Menswear with my soul, originality and passion. I wish my designs to end up in someone's wardrobe and being a part of his life.
How did the experience you got working with JW Anderson, Ioannis Dimitrousis and Thomas Pink assist you in your graduate collection? I learned a lot from there, how real fashion industry is going on. In particular, I have skilled pattern cutting. At the early time, I thought 'Designing fashion' require a true understanding of garment structure therefore, pattern cutting and making is very important in fashion, especially Menswear. I was so attracted by great knowledge of patterns on paper. In my graduate collection, I had lots of pattern cutting experiment to create new silhouette.
You recently graduated top in your class with first class honors and have received loads of awards how have all this helped you in terms of publicity and awareness?I believe myself, my design and spirit. I truly focused on graduate work, worked on my best and wanted to make what I really have sought for. I did not expect those results I got at all. I am very glad to have some people who like and understand my works.
In my opinion, It is not a matter of being able to multitask, the important thing is that what you enjoy sincerely and have fun with. I love illustration, pattern cutting, photography and graphic design and always have fun working on them. Art and design are all connected and I want to interpret my Menswear and thoughts expressing into various ways.
I know the inspiration for your graduate collection was drawn from the 18th century, military and movies but does your cultural roots also play a role in your cuts and silhouettes?I wanted to experiment with Korean costume at first. However, it didn't work on my concept so I used few costume accessaries which suited on the outfits of my collections. Actually, there are so many beautiful Korean things to play on and I have great ideas to reinterpret them on my own ways. I cannot wait.
Whats next for you? if u look back in 10 yrs time what are the things you would like to have accomplished?
I wish to have started my own label somewhere.
