What did you study in school and can you tell us a bit about your career path before joining ZALORA?
I went to LASALLE College of the Arts and I studied Fashion Textiles. Right after graduation in 2012, I’ve spent a couple of years working with various fashion and furniture businesses on their seasonal collections, had a short stint working in education, and was also engaged full-time at a heritage shirt company as a designer in the Marketing and Communications department.
Can you describe a typical day?
As a Print Designer, I am tasked with the print design and development of the womenswear brands under the Regional Private Labels – ZALORA, ZALIA and Something Borrowed.
A typical day at work is exciting as it always involves being constantly challenged with different design directions for every collection, across the brands. Most of the time I would be at my desk working on the execution of a series of print work. I work closely with product developers, to approve print quality and ensure that our colour decisions are specifically reflected in the prototypes.
What’s been the highlight of your time working at ZALORA so far?
If there were any highlights, it would be the time when you sent that email asking If I could do this interview!
Where do you get your style inspiration?
I wear whatever that is comfortable and easy to put on. I usually make up what I will be wearing for the day in the morning. There isn’t much to plan because my clothes tend to look similar anyway. I think I subconsciously pick my my outfit that I will wear each day and I am all set for the week.
We heard that ZALORA and ZALIA collection feature pieces with prints exclusively designed in-house, can you tell us a bit more about your role in this?
I usually work with the respective design teams to understand and negotiate the directions in which the print designs would go into each collection. The decisions that involve print and embroidery designs are always done with ready-fabric sourcing, ensuring that each collection is a cohesive one. Our team works very hard in a very dynamic environment, generating multiple collections every month.
It is hence vital that our eyes are always fresh to undertake new ideas with every project. In the area of textile design in general, it poses a significant commercial challenge especially when we are still in the process of strengthening the brand of our own private labels. So every project really involves finding the dynamic balance between propelling design and sustaining commerce.
Any famous designer (fashion/graphic) you look up to?
Amongst the so many that inspire, I enjoy the works of Aitor Throup, Timorous Beasties (non-fashion) and Jeremy Scott. They clearly exhibit unique skills in their area of work. The most respectable for me is still Monsieur Martin Margiela. His uncompromising philosophical views in dress and fashion as a system has always been deeply admirable.
Which part of the design process do you enjoy the most?
I like to research and devour images, but right now I enjoy the fine-tuning part of the design process more, to be honest. Creative work can get very exhausting.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to get into the fashion industry?
For those looking into joining the fashion industry, you need to almost be trying everything and then specifying how exactly you want to contribute to that area of the industry. Ideally, these need to be done when you’re still in design school. Fashion is very saturated and passion-driven, so there really isn’t room for people who are merely “interested”. But the consolation is that it is all-encompassing, so there is a high chance of finding something that you want to do. The final steps are to practise relentlessly and aim to be the best at it.
My next purchase on ZALORA will be…
My next purchase on ZALORA will be ZALORA’s gladiator sandals in genuine leather, and the men’s half placket linen shirt in white.
I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing…
I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing heavily patterned clothing, actually.
My closet confession is…
My closet confession is that I, ironically enough, have many patterned shirts that I own just so that I can admire them.
Everyone needs a ______________ in their wardrobe.
Everyone needs a large, excellent quality tote bag in their wardrobe. Plus Nike sneakers. And black chinos.
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