Jen Kao （ジェンカオ）ファッションブランド 2011年秋冬レディースコレクション

Jen Kao 2011 AUTUMN／WINTER WOMEN'S COLLECTION

Jen Kao （ジェンカオ） 2011 AUTUMN／WINTER SEASON － BRAND Q&A

Q1. Please outline your concept for AW11 and the reasons behind it.

I wrote a story about a psychedelic sinkhole where new and old generations of powerful women perform an exchange of history and energy. It is a collection inspired by the strongest animals we are capable of being...women in their most powerful state. I wanted to build a collection from the idea of human relationships and a balance between nostalgia and extreme modernity. The mood is "modern imperial" and the garments became all about wearable opulence and extravagance.

Q2. For this season, what fabrics are you paying attention to?

This season was incredibly experimental with fabrics. We molded leather, used fishing lure silicone to create fringe, created "raindrop" tights and bodysuits using resin and played with bright colors of fur. In addition, the uses of embroidery and metallics were very intense. The prints seemed space age, but savage at the same time and were inspired by NASA shots of the the world from above. The direction was about bringing an intergalactic feel to nature and having everything romance you into wanting to touch and feel it, and more importantly, see it up close.

Q3. What role does color play in your AW11 collection?

I have never used this much color in any collection! In each season, I try to create a challenge for myself by working with something that is not necessarily my comfort zone. New and wearable color combinations are one of the most difficult things to come up with. Since the collections so far had been for the most tonal with small pops of color, I wanted AW11 to be a complete opposite extreme. So, color became a crucial and definitive part of the collection.

Q4. Please choose 3 key items from the collection and outline why you chose them.

Look 3 is my favorite AW11 piece. This dress defines the whole season for me: colors, otherworldly extravagance, one of a kind statement, etc.

The kimono in Look 21 is a piece I have already worn 3 times. It fits all body types and is boldly romantic. It is the biggest piece of print on chiffon, and the flow creates femininity and drama simultaneously.

The fish fringe skirts are so fun to wear! They are made of various colors of fishing lure and just walking in them brings a whole new meaning to "movement."

Q5. Please tell us what things are important to you when thinking of a new design.

I like a blank slate. I prefer for there to be nothing around me for inspiration. It's the only way for me to feel like I'm building truly innovative shapes. A painter friend of mine once told me that there is no way to be completely original in a city, because there is visual stimulation everywhere you look, and your mind subconsciously is affected by the images. Since I live and work here, the best I can do is seclude myself for blocks of time in my apartment. And of course, I always listen to music!

Q6. What do you think of fashion in Japan?

I have always loved fashion in Japan, whether it is minimal or maximal. I am always amazed by the direction Japanese street fashion takes with iconic American items. Tokyo and New York have a reflective relationship that very much inspires me.

Q7. Is there any news of your brand?

We will now be showing Resort and Pre-Fall collections! Our new website will also be launching in the next month. There are also a lot of amazing projects lined up this year that I am currently working on, but I can't reveal them until they are completed!

Q8. Finally, please give us your thoughts on our website JAMOOL.

JAMOOL is fantastic. I have an always growing appreciation for web and social media. It is exciting to visit a site that has an eye for young designers and a desire to give them more exposure!

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Jen Kao （ジェンカオ）

Designer

Jen Kao

The key to Jen Kao’s designs can be found in one phrase: “easy dramatics.” Though undeniably sexy, her clothes are always comfortable, accessible, and created with the needs of the woman who will wear them in mind. “My customer is a woman who is always moving and always making things move.” Kao says, “There are intelligent ways to convey sexuality. A woman can emphasize her assets, internal and external, without revealing the obvious.”

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Kansas, Kao moved to New York City in 1999 to study Studio Art at NYU. Building on her passion for fine art and with a desire to explore three-dimensional design, Kao recognized her growing interest in textile construction. She subsequently obtained a graduate degree in fashion design from Parsons.

Jen Kao debuted her eponymous Spring 2008 Collection with a show dedicated to her peers; strong, modern, and complex individuals with a cultivated sense of personal style. She has established an identity as a designer known for innovative tailoring, intricately seamed leather pieces, and experimental knits. Kao’s talent for three-dimensional sculptural art is reflected in her design aesthetic, highlighting the contrast between architectural construction and fluid draping.

Jen Kao’s empowering sophistication has won her notable fans and multiple collaborations with some of today’s most influential artistic talents. The Jen Kao collection is crafted in New York City and is carried at top specialty stores worldwide.

URL : http://www.jenkao.com/