The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Fashion & Lifestyle

Johan Ku: Sculptured storytelling clothing

Johan Ku: Sculptured storytelling clothing
31 July 2013
Talicia Ramsey
Avatar
Talicia Ramsey
31 July 2013

Ranked as one of the top seven collections for his The Two Faces collection in the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo, we speak to one of fashion’s rising stars, Taipei born Johan Ku. 

What are your inspirations when it comes to designing?

I go to art galleries, artists’ studios, even museums to do research as well as visiting yarn factories for material sourcing. For my last two collections, I drew a lot of inspiration from watching films and re-living movies I’d seen. So whilst it might sound surprising, the story-line from a movie can be a useful first step in developing the theme for a new collection. 

There seems to be an underlying gothic theme behind your AW13 collection, what inspired this?

The collection is entitled Anna which is the name of the female lead in the 1992 movie Damage. The movie revolves around the desires and sexual tension of a famous politician and his son’s girlfriend. The sexual appeal of the whole collection was based around tight fitting, body hugging pieces that showed off the human form to its best advantage. The collection featured pieces rich in texture that used knits spiced up with leather and other embellishments. 

Did being born in Taipei influence your designs?

Correct. I was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1979. I studied graphic design in high school, and both fashion & textile design in college and graduating school. So yes, to that extent, being Taiwanese has influenced my designs. 

What is the difference between the fashion scene in China and London?

London is one of the most important fashion cites in the world, obviously. However, China is such a huge market that it is always an honour to do business there and to connect with their international fashion industry.

What designers inspire you; do you have any dream collaborations?

Rei Kawakubo is one of my favourite designers. It would be fantastic if I could do some pieces for Bjork’s new album – she is a singer from Iceland who I have always liked. 

What draws you to use different textures when designing?

I have a soft spot for textured surfaces and innovative textiles. It helps me to develop new yarns every season. 

Have you had any career highlights so far?

 Yes, some. The most significant one was probably winning the Design Vision, Avant-Garde Award for competing in Gen Art in New York in December 2009. 

Where do you see your brand going and what are your plans for the future?

Sculpture-like clothing and chunky knitwear is the signature design of my work. So, although such sculpture-like features have to be modified in the right way to suit the season, I would like to keep my signature design at the heart of my brand and keep pushing it forward. I hope it is here to stay.

Talicia Ramsey
Photos: Couresy of Johan Ku

To find out more about Johan Ku’s collecyions, visit here.

Related Items

More in Fashion & Lifestyle

Mother’s Day 2021: Gift guide

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality

Ezelle Alblas
Read More

15 mistakes newlyweds always make

The editorial unit
Read More

Ways to support Heart Month this February

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

10 romantic dresses for your Valentine’s night in

Sophie Cook
Read More

Five London areas to go for a romantic walk this Valentine’s weekend

Lilly Subbotin
Read More

The best beauty launches to treat yourself to this Valentine’s Day

Alexandra Davis
Read More

Valentine’s Day 2021: Gift guide for her

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

Interior design trends you’ll see everywhere in 2021

Sophie Cook
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • The Girl and the Spider (Das Mädchen und die Spinne)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Celebrate International Women’s Day with a Bombay Sapphire Cocktails & Create masterclass
    Food & Drinks
  • Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Limbo
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Delectible drinks that would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift
    Food & Drinks
  • Killing Escobar
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • “There really hasn’t been a film that deals with a platonic male-female relationship in this way”: Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass discuss Language Lessons
    Berlinale
  • A Brixton Tale
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • Surge
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • The Old Ways
    ★★★★★
    Glasgow
  • Berlinale 2021 winners: The full list
    Berlinale
  • WandaVision
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • Coming 2 America
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The Dissident
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The most weird and wonderful apparel from Shelfies
Honey – The new fragrance by Marc Jacobs