EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH A FASHION DESIGNER

FASHION DESIGN KINGDOM

As a professional fashion designer, Fanny Lam has a long reputation in fashion within Australia. A Queensland Asian Business Weekly reporter went especially to the showroom that she has designed in Brisbane’s Morningside to conduct an exclusive interview. It is hoped that this introduces her to the many Australian-Chinese friends and gives everyone the chance to become acquainted with this artistically talented and remarkably illustrious woman and her amazing fashion creations.

       Following: F is Fanny Lam J is Queensland Asian Business Weekly reporter.

J: Can you explain briefly your experience of entering the fashion world?

F: I left Hong Kong in 1995 and studied in Australia for three years I studied a specialized Fashion Design course at Mt. Gravatt TAFE. After Australia I had my own fashion import and export business and mainly managed American and European markets. Although at this stage I wasn’t in direct contact with fashion design and production, yet many years of experience had, to a certain extent, established a foundation for my fashion design career. Afterwards, it also stimulated my idea of taking advanced studies in Australia.

J:  Many people know that settling in a foreign country as a new immigrant is already difficult, how did you establish a business within Australia and also successfully create your own brand?

F: The path to establishing a career is not easy at all developing one in a foreign country is even harder. Having just graduated, I was only working in a clothing company, but because the company already had its own set style and identity, the designers’ mindset and abilities brought into play huge limitations. With the encouragement of friends and family, I decided to challenge myself by establishing my own label. In 1999, I even used my own name, Fanny Lam, to register in Australia and worked up by myself. I had well and truly started business in Australia. Having just opened, I designed whilst the construction of the samples was given to family-style machine-sewers to sew, iron pack for sale in Riverside, Fortitude Valley and South Bank city. This type of management continued for over 3 years. Subsequently more and more people were introduced to and welcomed the Fanny Lam label. In 2002, I started to sell the designed outfits within shops in all provinces. In 2004, I handed retailing rights to all representative shops in all provinces. In 2007, my first fashion retail store in Harbourtown, Helensvale, officially opened and sold Fanny Lam brand fashions and accessories. At present, I’ve already expanded and own two other stores at Stones Corner and Pacific Fair.

J: Your creative ability and determination is truly admirable. Up to now, your retail shops are already present in many major provinces of Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong is that right?

F: Yes. Apart from the three shops that I directly manage, there are over 250 stores in total selling my fashion label throughout Australia and New Zealand.

J: Besides your own name fashion label Fanny Lam, I found another women’s fashion label on your website, On Stage. What are their main variations?

F: The “Fanny Lam” label is designed for mature women, whilst On Stage better suits younger ladies. I will examine carefully with regards to designing the style and the selection of material and design in order to design fashions that meet the demands of various age groups. For example, the Fanny Lam designs all have sleeves and many can be matched as complete outfits, the feeling is elegant, charming; On Stage in contrast will have many strapless evening gowns designs added in. This accentuates the sexy bodies of young girls and is vivacious and cute. Via dressing and grooming one becomes even more feminine. The selection of materials for both labels is light and airy chiffon which when matched with stretchy materials is light and comfortable to wear, whilst also displaying feminine seductiveness.

J: Your business now has a determined scale, apart from establishing your own retail stores and employing the use of agents, have there been any large advances in the management styles today compared to before?

F: The biggest advance is, owning our own factory to create my own label compared to having to find others to outsource to.

J: It can be seen from the clothes that you have designed and from the business that you manage that you have a great passion and focused interest in fashion and are an incessant entrepreneur, could you share with the readers your plans for the future?

I’ve just opened a new Fanny Lam fashion boutique in China which has already started business this month. In the Australian and New Zealand markets, I hope to try combining methods, and design and open even more fashion chain stores to sell both Fanny Lam and On Stage fashion labels.

We wish that your business reaches new heights and that you design even more beautiful garments to present to your supporters! Thank you!