Han Chong, the former creative director of contemporary British line Three Floor, feels there is somewhat of a white space between fast fashion and high-priced luxury wares.Han Chong, the former creative director of contemporary British line Three Floor, feels there is somewhat of a white space between fast fashion and high-priced luxury wares. And this September, the designer decided he was going to do something about it by way of his new line, Self-Portrait. "It was important for me to launch Self-Portrait and create something that is sophisticated but still attainable for customers," the Central Saint Martins-trained, London-based talent told cbamd.com. His eighteen-piece debut collection is all that and more. Priced between $97 and $423 at current exchange, the range fuses painstaking details (like the lace appliqués on trumpet-skirt frocks) and streetwear styles (think laser-cut tees and oversize bombers) to fresh and luxurious effect.

"I like to deconstruct classic shapes and develop these into new, more playful and mischievous designs," Chong explained, noting that he is often inspired by the mix of visual cues he experiences outside the fashion realm (innovative industrial design and cinema, for example). The Spring '14 outing boasts unexpected uses of sequins, mesh, and lace; a smart faux leather; and silhouettes that are both relaxed and hyperfeminine. And each garment, whether it's a python-textured crepe skirt, a louche pair of trousers, or one of the designer's intricate, geometric, multi-material dresses, receives the same amount of attention and care. "Most labels in our price point are based on rather minimal designs," Chong said. Self-Portrait, however, is anything but.
POST: 2024-05-17