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Friday, 12 September 2014

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT SS15| Bernard Chandran




Known for stunning collections with a tough, futuristic edge, Bernard Chandran’s career spans over ten years and includes working as a property ambassador and television presenter, as well as his hugely successful eponymous fashion label. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Chandran returned to his Malaysian roots to launch the womenswear label in 1993, after graduating with a BA in Fine Art from The Paris American Academy.

Chandran has since gone on to win such prestigious design competitions as the Silk, Cut Young Designers Award and the Open European Contest for Look of the Year 2000, making a name for himself as the first non-European winner. This award cemented Chandran’s status as a designer looking to the future, with a distinctive and edgy aesthetic that appeals to celebrities as diverse as Lady Gaga, the Malaysian royal family and Estelle.

Chandran’s AW14 collection was glamorously draped with cinched waists and asymmetric silhouettes. Metallic finishes and patent leather added a tougher edge to the otherwise classic collection, while deep autumnal shades such as russet red, moss green and caramel, either in block shades or silk prints, played on the designer’s Chinese and Indian heritage. Voluminous silhouettes and structured tailoring, the designer’s signatures, were played down last season, but Chandran’s SS15 Fashion Scout showcase looks set to present a collection for confident women ahead of their time.

By Isabella Silvers, Contributor, (@izzymks).