Q+A: Kanchan Couture (HK)
With the Christmas party season coming up, it's now time to start thinking about evening wear and party dresses. For affordable yet luxurious womenswear in Hong Kong, you don't need to look much further than couturer, Kanchan Panjabi (or "Kanch" as she likes to be known in Hong Kong) who runs Kanchan Couture. Her line of clothing and accessories combine Indian textiles sourced from Bangalore and Delhi and classic shapes to produce a wearable, yet modern, collection for any woman.
Kanchan Couture is certainly a label to follow very closely. Kanch studied in New York, graduating from Economics and French and then moved onto London to work with fashion designer, Amanda Wakeley. Since the launch of the label, Kanchan has participated in a long list of fashion shows and she has recently been nominated as BusinessWeek Asia's Best Young Entrepreneurs for 2009.
I ask if Kanch could tell us a little more about herself and Kanchan Couture:
1. What are your favourite fashion trends for this season?
" I am not a big trend follower but there were two trends that caught my eye this season - Shoulder pads and super short dresses.
Shoulder pads spawned down the runway looking rather chic, followed by super short slinky dresses which actually look young and fresh rather then trashy."
2. What inspires you?
"My design inspiration began with an old image of my mother (which is attached) on a motorbike in Kolkata. I love this image because it epitomizes who I am; it holds my roots and culture yet it is so modern for the time it was taken. This is the message I would like to send through my cloths.
Each collection and print is usually inspired by something that touches my soul and speaks to me. The new collection is called untitled stories inspired by a book called Stories of Women by Shanta Rao. It is the untold story of the past, present and the future.
Everything around me, life itself...... is intoxicating
Often inspiration is not in a complicated concept but is drawn from the everyday. To me it is really about making the ordinary into the extraordinary."
3. Who are your favourite designers?
"Jill Sander - lovely minimalism style. Has mastered the basic garment. The germans have great skill in pattern cutting and this shine though in the brand.
John Galliano - His couture is utterly beautiful in a very precise way
Prada - Intellect meets beauty...she is truly inspiring"
4. What will you be wearing for the upcoming Christmas party season?
"Dresses, Dresses and more dresses.....beautifully feminine figure flattering dresses in jewel toned silks.
..And I do love jackets too, so a certain red cashmere vest with large shell buttons will def be part of my wardrobe."
Here are some photos from Kanch's latest collection:
And last but not least, Kanchan is offering TiC readers the following promotion:
"With the party season just round the corner we want you to be ready to celebrate in style, Kanchan Couture would love to invite you to view our new Fall /Winter collection from our fashion show along with a FREE Couture Lab session with Kanch (15 mins styling consultation to jazz up this special season with you). Feel free to bring in a dress from your closet and lets style it together."
Book in for appointment now as SPACE is limited.
Time: 11:00am - 8:00pm
Dates: 9 November - 30 November
Tel: 2117 1782/ 6907 6817
Email: Sharon@kanchancouture.com
L'Atelier de Kanch
Location: 2nd Floor, 108-110 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 21171782
E-mail: info@kanchancouture.com
Website: http://www.kanchancouture.com
Photos courtesy of Kanchan Couture
