After the 2015 Fashion Event: A Conversation with Enzoani Designer Kang Chun Lin

Gorgeous and glamorous wedding dresses were in full abundance at the runway show of this year's Midsummer Night's Dream-themed, ninth annual Enzoani Fashion Event in June 2015. Designed by Kang Chun 'KC' Lin, the Enzoani bridal gowns were as spectacular as ever, wowing the crowd and showcasing all the loveliest details that Enzoani has come to be known for. After the Fashion Event, we spoke to KC to get the inside scoop on his inspiration, design process, and the latest collections.

What is your background? What is your office space/design environment like?

KC: My design space is very messy! [laughs] But I like to stay somewhere quiet by myself when I’m working. I like music when I’m traveling, but I only listen to music at certain times. The rest of the time, I prefer quiet -- inspiration comes to me when it’s quiet. I like to stay in my own place, read, do my own things. I like reading different kinds of things, even business newspapers! My background is actually in business, and I have a business degree from Taipei with a focus in marketing. But I chose to do design. So I graduated and went to London to study fashion. Everything I learned, it was in London.

Where does most of your inspiration come from?

KC: Music! It influences me a lot – every season, I have a different kind of mood, so I listen to different kinds of music. Sometimes my music choices seem strange to other people! But that’s my mood, that’s what inspires me. And this season, the theme for our annual Fashion Event actually really matched what I had been listening to. I loved that this year we went with a fantasy garden theme, inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare – fantastical, bohemian. We moved towards a more boho, organic look. When I saw the inspiration boards, it reminded me of mazes – like ancient, French garden mazes with tall hedges – but suddenly in the maze, something would show up, like a fantasy creature. It was all very organic, mythological, fairytale-like – fantastical, a bit darker and less sweet, but not scary!

What was your vision for the 2016 collections?

KC: The 2015 collections were softer, but this season is all about bringing out something that could be considered more of our 'signature,' because we did those kinds of things the first few seasons. This season is much more dramatic, with a lot more horsehair dresses, new lace detailing, and dramatic silhouettes. The skirt is more ‘wow!’ A good example is the Ibanda gown from our 2016 Blue by Enzoani collection. It's a big ball gown with 3D Guipure lace for the bodice, a tiered horsehair skirt, and a low illusion back with some sparkle. We really wanted that 'wow' effect - from the front and the back! And of course, we wanted to incorporate new ideas, like blush and champagne color options for gowns like BT16-4 and BT16-12 from our Beautiful collection. It just adds something refreshing and unique. And of course, our Enzoani collection is the most dramatic and couture, with a lot of intricate details, embroidery and beading that comes from amazing work all done by hand. During Fashion Event, we heard a lot of positive feedback about so many gowns for their details, like Kristiana and Kennedy from the Enzoani collection.

How would you describe yourself as a designer?

KC: You know, I don’t like to say I’m a designer actually - it’s more like I am a fashion worker [smiles]. I look at universal design elements and put my own twist and ideas into it. I develop it and try to figure out how I can make it different and how it can fit into our market. I was telling a friend, my dresses aren’t going to be put in a museum – they’re to put on a woman! If I’m doing costume design for theatre, that’s a different case, but this is reality – this is about a woman’s big day, and you just want to make sure she looks and feels incredible, happy, and fabulous on her big day, and that’s the most important. It’s not about me. It’s about creating something and making a woman feel happy on her most special day. That’s my design theory!