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Interview with Kelly Ng Hiew Mui |
Home > Designer Interviews > Kelly Ng Hiew Mui |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Kelly Ng Hiew Mui (KNHM) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Kelly Ng Hiew Mui by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
KNHM: I'm a foreign student who is studying fashion design 2 year master program in Bunka Fashion Graduate University in Tokyo,Japan. Now is my second year and will graduate in February next year. Before master program,I obtained my bachelor's degree from Bunka Gakuen University in Tokyo.My major back in university is stage and film costume design. Before entering university,I knew nothing about tailoring but always had strong interest in fashion design. I started learning calligraphy and chinese art painting since I was 7 years old and have won around 150 prizes in calligraphy,art and design contests.I was being invited to my very first calligraphy Asia exhibition tour when I was thirteen. When I graduated from high school,I got scholarships from 4 local art schools and 1 makeup school in London with free tuition fee. But then, I wanted to learn something design related major,which was completely new to me, and I always thought that it was much more practical when your sketches can be turned into something wearable,that's why I chose fashion design.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
KNHM: I don't have company/design studio so far but having my own brand/studio is my goal.
FS: What is "design" for you?
KNHM: Makes dream come true.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
KNHM: When I was in university,I liked dramatic design the most. Now I'm more into designing beautiful outers and dresses, something like pret-a porter collection with haute couture taste.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
KNHM: Too much to tell! But John Galliano for Dior and Alexander Mcqueen are always my teachers.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
KNHM: I'm still a student and have no working experience, but the first thing I designed for a company is T-shirt for UNIQLO when i was year 1 university student. Now I'm designing gymnastics leotards for Olympic China team in Riot this year.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
KNHM: I always love embroidered fabric but is always open to different kind of fabric.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
KNHM: When I'm fully concentrate, have enough time and money to create something.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
KNHM: In the past, I focused on "WOW" factor but this year, since I'm planning on designing a dressy collection, I will focus on silhouette and how much potential do women like it.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
KNHM: I feel fully fulfilled and content because I never see design as an obligation nor job, I see it as part of my life,part of myself.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
KNHM: Completely relaxed and will stare at my design for minutes.
FS: What makes a design successful?
KNHM: When the wearer feel amazing about herself. Without wearer, clothes are nothing. Clothes are supposed to be created to fulfill their 5 basic functions or at least one function. 1)Protection.Keeps people safe from the environment that surrounds them. 2)Identification.Allows people to be recognized as members of a specific group. 3) Modesty.A belief about the proper way for clothing to cover the body. 4)Status.Position or rank within a group. 5)Adornment. Helps people express their uniqueness and creativity.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
KNHM: The idea, combination of colors, silhouette, the balance, the creator's taste....etc. I appreciate different kind of styles but still believe in "good is good, bad is bad" and I don't like the excuse of "if you don't understand it, it's art".
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
KNHM: Not only bringing in a new idea/concept,but also creating/leading a healthy trend. Fast fashion is the second dirtiest industry in the world, next to big oil. Fashion is a complicated business involving long and varied supply chains of production, raw material, textile manufacture, clothing construction, shipping, retail, use and ultimately disposal of the garment.Only about 10 years old, fast fashion is leading the way in actual disposable clothing and it is particularly worrisome because it creates demand for and then constantly churns out massive amounts of cheap clothes, ultimately accelerating carbon emissions and global warming. Consumer no longer appreciate high quality clothes which take more time and money to complete, fashion design nowadays is all about "fast, new, interesting....fast,fast and fast". Not only fashion design,everything is fast and we don't even take time to appreciate things around us, we just take them for granted. I think it's time to slow the pace of clothes making process and start teaching consumer the craftsmanship behind each piece of design, let them rethink the concept of beauty, stop those poor women from molding themselves into super thin skinny model.....fashion industry really need a pause and reorganization.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
KNHM: Overall, it's evolving into "fast, easy, simple" lifestyle, "eco" comes first to some designers but not all.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
KNHM: My last exhibition was in February and it was in the multipurpose hall of Bunka fashion school. Now I'm preparing to make my graduate collection,which probably consist of 15 dressy style outfits. Our school only choose 10 students to graduate fashion show,hopefully I can make it!
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
KNHM: From everywhere, every single little thing around me. My inspirations are mainly from the nature.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
KNHM: Bold and feminine. I think an independent strong woman doesn't mean she cannot be feminine and romantic.To me, women are like water, they can be soft, gentle and can nurture life, but they can also be strong, bold and mysterious, just like the ocean waves.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
KNHM: My hometown is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I'm a Malaysian Chinese, I was born and grew up in multilingual and multicultural society, this makes me can adjust easily to any kind of culture and environment. I have been living in Tokyo, Japan for 5 years. Life in Tokyo enable me to see more designs, ideas,exhibitions from different countries and gives me more inspirations. But I hope I can go to western country after graduate as I have been living in Asia for too long! As a designer, I need to see the world!
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
KNHM: One year left till my graduation. Although I'm lucky enough to have friend who is wiling to sponsor me to create my brand in Tokyo, I'm still thinking of going to Toronto to work from junior position at wedding dress company as there's someone waiting for me. Nothing is concrete so far.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
KNHM: So far I develop my designs myself.
FS: How can people contact you?
KNHM: Kindly reach me through my e-mail theempireofume@gmail.com
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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