Interview with Kelly Ng Hiew Mui

I don't have company/design studio so far but having my own brand/studio is my goal.

Makes dream come true.

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.

Too much to tell! But John Galliano for Dior and Alexander Mcqueen are always my teachers.

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.

I always love embroidered fabric but is always open to different kind of fabric.

When I'm fully concentrate, have enough time and money to create something.

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.

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.

Completely relaxed and will stare at my design for minutes.

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.

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".

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.

Overall, it's evolving into "fast, easy, simple" lifestyle, "eco" comes first to some designers but not all.

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!

From everywhere, every single little thing around me. My inspirations are mainly from the nature.

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.

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!

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.

So far I develop my designs myself.

Kindly reach me through my e-mail theempireofume@gmail.com