5 questions with Prabal Gurung

SINGAPORE — Within five years of the launch of Prabal Gurung’s eponymous collection at New York Fashion Week, his designs have been donned by Michelle Obama and The Duchess Of Cambridge as well as Hollywood stars like Scarlett Johansson and Lady Gaga.

“When we first launched, I could only dream that I would some day be able to dress women who hold such importance in our society. Dressing First Lady Michelle Obama for the first time was certainly one of the most memorable moments. What she represents to our nation and beyond resonates a lot with me — strength, beauty and intellect,” said the Nepalese-American fashion designer.

He also mentioned artistes such as Angelina Jolie, Fan Bingbing and Zhang Ziyi as other women he would love to see in his creations because their “strength and resilience strongly resonate with the brand’s ideals”, which are inspired by “the intelligent, cultured, beautiful and substantive woman who is curious about the world around her”. Gurung believes such qualities should be nurtured from a young age, adding that the female youth should “carry themselves with substance and aspire to loftier goals based on knowledge, rather than notoriety”. This is who he feels the Prabal Gurung woman is.

Fresh from attending the Metropolitan Museum Of Art Costume Institute Gala Benefit with Hailee Steinfeld as his arm candy, the Singapore-born designer is ecstatic about his return here. “I haven’t been back for some time, and as I was born there, it will be very interesting to see how the country has developed and changed.

“Aside from the thrill of being able to showcase my designs to a new area of the world, I’m most excited about the people I will meet and the things I’ll see. For me the best part of travelling is being able to immerse yourself in the culture of your surroundings and take home experiences that are unique to that part of the world.”

Q: Tell us more about your Fall 2014 collection.

A: Our recent Fall collection features prints inspired by artist Cecily Brown, whose unique artistic approach and freedom of speech I deeply admire, with PRABAL GURUNG signature couture detailing: Hand-draping and pintucking techniques, with organza tweeds, Lurex spun jacquard and double-faced finishing, to name a few. We used a colour palette of ivory and midnight, with a range of reds — bordeaux, crimson, rhododendron and cantaloupe, and featured a range of chunky knits and cashmere wools.

Q: What is one element that makes an outfit?

A: I don’t think any one piece can make an outfit. I believe a great outfit should complement a woman, rather than overwhelm or define her. An intelligent woman with great strength of character is what will make it come alive.

Q: Can one stay stylish in a hot and humid climate such as Singapore’s?

A: Absolutely. Style is a state of being that transcends seasons. The trick is being able to accommodate for each season’s varied conditions while still maintaining a cohesive (approach) and belief in your aesthetic.

Q: Do you have any tips to dressing stylishly during summer?

A: I think it’s important to remain comfortable in the summer months. You could look handsome or elegant in a beautiful piece, but discomfort can reflect in your demeanour. Clothes should be worn with confidence, staying true to one’s personal style.

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

A: I would describe my personal style as clean and simple with an edge. Since I spend much of my time in the design studio, it’s important to feel comfortable while I work. I like to remain a relatively blank canvas so that I can focus my efforts on the collection. Zhang Weifang and CHRISTIE YEO

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What’s on at this year’s Audi Fashion Festival

PRABAL GURUNG Fall 2014

When: May 14, 7pm

Tickets: S$120

SATURDAY F/W 2014, presented by OSIM

When: May 15, 5pm

Tickets: S$40

Ashley Isham A/W 2014, featuring SK-II Brand Ambassador Godfrey Gao

When: May 15, 8pm

Tickets: S$80

Ong Shunmugam F/W 2014

When: May 16, 6.30pm

Tickets: S$60

FARAH KHAN F/W 2014

When: May 16, 8pm

Tickets: S$80

Roberta Pieri featuring Jonathan Liang

When: May 17, 6.30pm

Tickets: S$60

PARCO Japan featuring DRESSCAMP A/W 2014

When: May 17, 8pm

Tickets: S$60

Thomas Tait A/W 2014

When: 17 May, 9.30pm

Tickets: S$100

Oscar de la Renta Fall 2014

When: May 18, 7pm

Tickets: S$150

All shows are held at Tent@Orchard, Ngee Ann City. Tickets are available at SISTIC. For more information,

visit http://audifashionfestival.com.