Karina Foo (Founder and designer of Lady Bold, a designer & boutique athletic wear collection)

Lady Bold is slowly making bold waves in designer fitness-fashion with its focus on hand drawn artwork and masterpieces by the founder, Karina Foo. The journalist turned artist and designer has created an impressive boutique collection that overshadows mass produced offerings with her use of strong colours and highly detailed patterns. As a result, each piece tells an intense but unique story that defies the mainstream. Here, Karina talks about how her creations embodies edginess and defiance.

Lady Bold的设计师兼创始人Karina Foo以大胆又特出的波浪形手工绘制艺术制作健康时尚。这名从媒体工作者转化为艺术设计师的年轻女性，创作令人印象深刻的精品汇集，运用强烈色彩和高度细致花纹，让每一片手工绘品充斥着打破主流的张扬与独特气息。在这里，Karina Foo也谈到她的创作如何体现鲜明和锐利感。

Your designs and artwork is definitely very bold. What inspired you to create Lady Bold?
I love colour, drawing and fitness so the collections are made as wearable art that’s been inspired by cultures, festivities and a celebration of colour. There are a lot of brands in the sports clothing market but many offer mainstream patterns or colours that are quite common and plain. I wanted to create a premium product that stands out, isn’t part of the norm and certainly to make an impact.

你的设计和艺术作品展现，绝对是非常大胆和充满挑衅，是什么促使你创造Lady Bold？
我喜爱颜色、绘画和健身，因此这些汇合也创作时装艺术，然后受到文化，节日和庆典色彩启发渲染。目前运动服饰市场品牌众多，但提供的是相当一般，普通的主流图案或颜色。我想脱颖而出创作优质的产品，但并非规范，以确实造成冲击。

 Who is Lady Bold?
Lady Bold (not only limited to ladies), is someone who loves beautiful creations. She or he doesn’t conform or blends in. You can be any age or size but you’re comfortable in your skin. When you wear the apparel, it’s not just your normal sportswear, you’re wearing a unique work of limited edition art while working out. The artwork pushes boundaries with its eccentric and edgy motifs and for the wearer, it’s about awakening their creative soul and not being afraid to express themselves.

谁是Lady Bold？
Lady Bold(不仅限于女性)，是给予那些热爱美丽作品的人们，可以是任何年龄或体型，但却贴合和让你的皮肤舒适。当你穿上这些服装，它不仅是正常运动服，而是限量版又独特的艺术作品，边缘又古怪前卫的图案也是唤醒大家的创作灵魂，不要害怕表达真实的自己。

Can you describe the design process?
In a nutshell, it takes about two months to complete one design. I first sketch and draw a design, colour it with inks, digitise it on software and get it printed on high performance sports fabric. A great deal of research has also gone into the fabric and stitching quality where the newest technology is used to make durable and comfortable athletic clothing.

可以描述下整个设计过程？
简而言之，需要约两个月的时间完成一个设计。首先素描和勾勒设计，涂上彩色颜料和利用数码软件把图案印制在高性能运动服饰面料。我也研究了许多衣服材质和缝合的质量，引用最新技术制出耐用和舒适的运动服。

What makes quality and premium athletic clothing and can your range be worn for lifestyle wear?
Quality athletic clothing is very different from your everyday wear and you need something that’ll last with the intensity of your exercise. We use a method of stitching called “double flat lock” to create a seamless look where the threads are smooth and won’t irritate the skin. There’s also a strong layered gusset with two to three way stitch lines to prevent fabric tears. The material compositions are patented as LBoost™ High Tech Fabric where it wicks sweat away to keep you cool and dry while the soft microfibers provide comfort so it can be worn when you’re not exercising. The method of printing for the artwork is high end digital prints so the colours stay strong and last even after washing several times.

优质的运动服饰有何特点，能延伸到生活休闲服装吗？
高质量运动服饰与日常穿着服装相当不一样，需要能够持续运动锻炼强度。我们使用所谓的“双面平锁”拼接方式设计出无缝的外观，线迹是光滑的，不会刺激皮肤。还有2-3道加固的缝线，防止布料撕裂。而材质组合包括获得专利的LBOOST™高科技面料，让你远离汗水，感觉凉爽和干燥，而柔软的微纤维提供舒适性，即使没运动锻炼也可穿着。采用高端数码印制的艺术图案，连洗几次后依旧保持颜色鲜艳。

 Con Ilio (Fashion designer of Con Ilio Melbourne)

Con Ilio is a lover of all things beautiful and is a Melbourne designer of his self named label. He specialises in couture designer of women’s bespoke wedding and evening gowns boasting an impressive clientele. His line is known to embody style, finesse and empowerment for the inner God and Goddess. His strong use of elegance is shown and embellished in bead and lace elements. We spoke to Con as he shared with us more about his business, style and inspiration of elegance

Con Ilio是属于一切美丽事物的代名词，是这名墨尔本设计师自我命名的标签。他专心为女性打造婚礼时尚与晚礼服，细腻的设计曲线体现风格、技巧和点缀女性的内在，铸造每一个维也纳女神。他善于使用优雅的装饰珠和蕾丝元素塑造时尚，并分享了更多关于他的商业、风格和优雅的灵感泉源。

How did the brand or the idea of it begin?
A. I started working from home on my own and had a lot of help from my mum. I was also trying to get involved as much as I could in the fashion industry so I was modeling and doing hair dressing on the side. At home, I was making gowns and dresses for my sisters, my mother and did more for friends’ weddings. It was a slow and steady growth process.

关于自主品牌的想法是怎么萌生的?
我一开始是自己在家工作，并且获得我母亲的大力协助。为了涉猎时尚行业，另一方面我也着手于服装和发型。这是一个循序渐进的过程，我在家里先为姐妹设计礼服和裙子，再到母亲，然后延伸到更多朋友的婚礼。

What is your signature look?
I like to use different fabrics and techniques – my signature is the small waist and curvy hips to accentuate the hourglass figure. You’ll see something that’s always on the edge and very elegant. I love beautiful things and I want women to feel beautiful when they wear the gowns.

你的特质是什么?
我喜欢用不一样的面料和技术—我的设计特质是突出腰身和臀型曲线美的沙漏形状。而边缘上的点缀饰物增添优美。我爱一切美丽的事物，我希望女士们穿上礼服时觉得自己超美。

As every gown involves a lot of work, which one involved the most hours?
The most complex gown we did was the hydrangea couture gown where we used 21,500 petals and delicately hand sewed each of them onto the bodice and skirt of the gown. It’s very heavy but beautiful and involved several days and nights of work.

每件礼服制作过程都相当繁琐，哪一件是你印象最深刻的？
制作过最复杂的礼服是涉及大量的球花刺绣设计，精致手工缝纫2万1500朵花瓣，从礼服的贴身上衣到裙子，这是非常吃重但美丽的过程，总共花了几个昼夜完成。

As you have a niche selection of menswear, can you describe its style?
Think 007 James Bond – looking sleek and dangerous with clean sophisticated cuts. I started by making mens wear for myself as I always wanted to wear something new when I hit the town. One of my friends suggested I open up that line as she believed that my style would grab attention as they are daring and unique.

如果你有男装时尚的选项，能描述下是什么风格的吗?
我想是007占士邦格调，透过利落又复杂的裁剪打造光滑又危险的整体观感。我开始思索男装的方向，自己在逛街时候也穿上新感觉服饰。一个朋友建议我朝着路线走，因为她相信我的风格足以吸引那些显得大胆与独特的人们。