A
Fashion designer thats full of eastern promise!
Kerrie
Bond speaks to fashion designer Kavita Patel who has started her own label of
Indian inspired clothing - Kissmet
Fazed
- Can you tell me about your background with regards to your career?
After
graduating from University of North London, with a marketing degree I joined Mars
Confectionery this then led to a position as Account Manger at IRI (Marketing
Agency) to work in Market research in the Personal Care markets.
Fazed
- Why did you decide to go into fashion buying?
I have a real passion
for Indian Fashion and as much as I enjoy my career at the moment, I can really
see it following a typical route. I thought that fashion buying will give me the
slight difference and challenge that I need from a career, also I could never
get bored of being around beautiful clothes!!
Fazed
- When did you decide you wanted to have your own business?
It's not
been a childhood ambition or anything. After graduating and working for a couple
of years I thought it would be good to be my own boss.
Fazed
- You have a different type of outlet to sell your clothes through, why did
you take this approach?
Being a women who does some regular shopping down
the streets of Wembley, Southall etc I really thought that the market needs a
different type of shopping experience. The majority of these shops have really
bad customer service due to the amount of people they have in their shops! The
idea behind the Kissmet boutique is too give our customers the kind of service
I would like to receive myself. At Kissmet they will be the only customer in the
boutique at the time and will receive my full attention and advice. The customers
can sit down enjoy a glass of wine etc and they can even bring their partners,
children or a friend and we can entertain them too with a drink or a mag! all
without the hustle and bustle the busy high street stores!
Fazed - Do you tell your designers what style of clothes to produce for you?
I have given my designer's some guidance but only because they are in Bombay and I am here so know the UK market. I have only given guidance on cuts, material, colours etc but try not to interfere too much as I want to keep the range as unique as possible. I initially went out to Bombay to spend time with the designers to brief them on where I wanted Kissmet to be placed and the type of consumer we were aiming at.
Fazed
- If so where do you get your ideas?
The majority of my ideas are
from the browsing the major western fashion houses and also by trial and error!
I would also not sell anything that I wouldn't wear myself!
Fazed - Who would you say your clothes are tailored to the?
The majority of the Kissmet range is for today's independent women, who want to look and feel good at an affordable price. Our tailors and designers give each one of the pieces individual attention and the finished item is of the highest quality.
Fazed - What would you say is a trend for this season?
Defiantly shirt style kurtas and well the good old trouser suit! Kissmet`s trend for this season is a fusion of indo western style dressing using luxurious fabrics and embroidery. The cuts are very modern and we have introduced the shirt style kurta to compliment our boot cut pants. The colours for this season are very fresh, contemporary and fun.
Fazed - Do you think that the mainstream fashion houses will continue to have an Ethnic influence in the clothes or is that just a passing fad?
If asked the same question this time last year I would have said that it was a passing fad, but now I am not so sure! I don't think the ethnic influence will be as strong as it was last summer but I think it will continue in some way.
Fazed
- How did you come up with the name?
I don't really know, it just popped into my head! It was one of the first names I had thought of and it kept coming back to me!
Fazed - It is very inspiring to see a young women starting her own business, what has been your most difficult encounter to date?
Most defiantly juggling my full time "day job" and trying to get the business up and running at the same time! There should be more hours in a day!
Fazed - How did you find the designers?
The
majority of my range comes from Sheetal who is based in Bombay and is a relative.
Sheetal has been a successful designer in Bombay for over 10 years so with her
contacts and experience in the industry she helped to source the other designers.
Fazed - Where do you see your business in the next five years?
I would love to see Kissmet have an influence on the UK fashion market. But also most importantly even though Kissmet may expand I want to maintain the high levels of customer service and good quality clothing.
For
more information visit the Kissmet
website
