ZAOZAO: Crowdfunding for emerging designers

Work Week Rundown

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:51:00 +0000

No 2 work days are ever the same (thank god). Heading back to HK tomorrow for a busy and eventful week. I have a second meeting with an art mall, followed by VisionFirst's charity auction event 'Raise the Roof for Refugees'. Some of our designers generously offered their items for auction and for the VIP goodie bags. On Wednesday, I'll be dropping by the soft opening of 7Heaven, the new club in LKF we are having our pop-up event at on Thursday. And on Friday, we are meeting a startup that just opened their HK office. SUPER excited to discuss a potential collaboration opportunity!! Was ecstatic when we were told one of their managers was a huge fan of ZAOZAO. Moments like this make me giddy with glee! And after that, I only have a week to get everything together before I jet off to NYC! Counting the minutes!!

Counting Down

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:24:00 +0000

Best news this year: my ticket to NY has just been confirmed! Cannot believe I haven't been back since I graduated 5 years ago. I've been longing for a good enough reason to make the dreadful 16 hour trip to NY and now my wish has finally been granted (one of the best decision's we've made for work. More on this later)!

Click to read more »

Part 2: San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Mon, 06 May 2013 01:49:00 +0000

I spent a few days in Silicon Valley this past week, to meet with potential investors, advisors, entrepreneurs, and friends. Have been in 3 different timezones in the last 7 days and am surprisingly feeling fine. Some photos from my travels to the heart of startup land, including tours of the famous Google and FB campuses.

on Facebook campus in Menlo Park, CA

A day in the life of a Briteling in SF

Google campus fun in Mountainview, CA

ZAO US TOUR Part 1: VEGAS

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:00:00 +0000

While this is not my first trip to the city of sin, it is my first time touring the startup scene in las vegas. i type this entry as i eavesdrop on intelligent conversations about the future of zappos CEO tony hsieh's brainchild, the downtown project, sipping purposefully on my cappuccino in the beat cafe, the area's choice coffeeshop among the hipsters/young entrepreneurs.

some photos of DTLV and the Stitch Factory, a cool fashion incubator / co-working space / creative education center for designers and your average person alike.

Everything around me screaming "America"...but despite being US born and bred, feeling like a sore thumb sticking out! Has 4 years in HK changed that? I'm moving on to San Francisco in a few hours, so we'll see about that.

Pop-up Event at Prive

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 08:53:00 +0000

Come by Privé Hong Kong on Thursday, April 25 from 8.30-11.30pm for a fun-filled night!

Featuring: ZAOZAO pop-up shop, Itsie Bitsie swimwear fashion show, complimentary GlamGirl goodie bags, awesome prizes and open bar!

See you there!!

ZAO EDITION: Cuff Bracelets

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:39:00 +0000

Which bracelet matches your style? FABcessories' Cuff Bangle is our pick!

Pre-order it here: https://www.shopzaozao.com/project/566

Paris & London

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:15:00 +0000

Back in Hong Kong! Despite passing out for more than 24 hours, I am still so exhausted from our trip to Paris and London. I have to say it was more productive than I expected: we attended trade shows (Capsule and Designers & Agents), fashion shows (Anne Valerie Hash & Gustavo Lin) and had several eventful meetings (Brighton Fashion Week, ASOS, IFM, Carnet de Mode to name a few). I'm looking forward to the next few months- we will be implementing changes, introducing collaborations and bringing bigger and better things to you. As much as I want to share all the little details, I will wait till our plans are concrete!

Before I head to bed (my body is so confused right now after being in different time zones and weathers in such a short pan of time), below are some photos from my trip. Enjoy!

We popped over to Colette to have lunch and escape the cold. Here is my Les Mis moment with free warm water. You should have seen the waiters look when he took my order.... But when you're struggling to stay awake after a painful 13 hour flight, you stop caring.

My invitation to the Anne Valerie Hash show. Official photos can be viewed here.

Intimate viewing of the Anne Valerie Hash show. Loved the glittery pink backdrop and catwalk, so unexpected. As was her collection of beautiful silk jumpsuits matched with Nike sneakers. Not a trend I'll be sporting but found it refreshing to see something unconventional.

Bracing the cold to get a photo with the Eiffel tower. Definitely was not dressed for the weather! A down jacket would have been more appropriate...

Ridiculous line at Laduree. We decided it wasn't worth the wait no matter how delicious the macarons were.

Nothing like a sugar rush to keep you happy and awake.

Fighting jet lag with sugar at 8pm.

Thrilled to be in London with my best friend from New York who I hadn't seen in 5 years!! Here I am instagramming photos of us together.

Arrived to amazing weather in London, which obviously did not last.

Year of the Snake

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:30:00 +0000

Good morning, and happy Chinese New Year to all! Though it's my fourth CNY in HK, I'll finally be checking out the parade for the first time. Looking forward to the festivities!

shanghai recap

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:25:00 +0000

the ZAO girls in XTD, all bundled up!

when i first started living in hk, returning from trips overseas and descending that ramp when you first deplane at hong kong international airport always felt slightly smothering, like an invisible blanket of humidity. somewhere at the 1 year mark, a switch flipped and this hint of mildew became welcoming, like home. now in year 3.5, combined with returning from china, i can't tell you how amazing HK heat, humidity and pollution felt compared to where we spent the last few days.

newly opened K-11 art mall on huai hai lu

not to knock on shanghai, of course. i had great hotpot (hotpot king, yum), decent chicken caesar salad (waga's in pudong), and its share of fancy overpriced yet mediocre restaurants (tapas at unico, what?). randomly ended up at 10+ person dinners each night i went out, perhaps indicative of shanghai's expat culture vs. hk ... or maybe just a function of my tenure. of course these were all asides, as ling and i were in town to meet investors and met some techies, designers, restauranteurs, and even a club boss along the way.

renovated warehouse turned co-working space people squared, with great layout & funky vibe.

in general, we found that people were willing to take random cold meetings. on the investor side though the meetings were all set up beforehand, and through referrals. we jam-packed our days on purpose in the interest of productivity, and to my satisfaction, got every meeting that i had hoped for. some meetings turned out less than savory, others waxed hopeful...but nothing we haven't encountered before. i have found that it matters less than you think, whether the meeting is set up as a referral or a cold call...anything could happen. so it's not hard to get a meeting. people aren't meeting you to be nice or because they don't value their time; they're meeting you for your potential value-add to their lives. plain and simple. which lends naturally to the commercial qualities and no-holds-barred ways of doing business in china. it's one way of doing things...not sure if it's my favorite, but it clearly works for some who have cashed out on their massive success there.

view of the bund from PuXi side

being starved of facebook and our usual social media outlets but also being too cheap to roam, free VPN'd wifi was a real treat whenever possible. the public wifi in shanghai was annoying though, requiring SMS to local carriers for two-fold password login. why is that so necessary.

this is the center of town. yes, really

while it was a good reminder of the true "wild wild east", we are quite happy to be back at home base. no more sub 10 degree weather, less deadly pollution indices, uncensored and high-speed internet. the journey continues, as we plan events and secure partnerships into the year of the snake.

zao in shanghai

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:48:00 +0000

got off my flight a few hours ago and dropped my bags off at friend's place. am sitting at a whiskey bar waiting for a meeting right now. it's been nearly 3 years since I've been properly back in shanghai. this time we are here to meet investors, designers, and fashion people in general. hoping it will be a productive week ahead. some initial thoughts:

*hearing a lot more english, and not just of the American variety
*efficiency has picked up- no traffic problems to report of thus far, airport immigration took literally 10 minutes
*weather is unseasonably warm, brisk but quite pleasant in almost a fresh way (we'll see about that tomorrow in the daylight I suppose)
*people are less crass than I remember

granted, i have only been in the city for a few hours and am on the high after being upgraded to business class on a flight I paid discount fare for and looking forward to catching up and staying with my good friend from college.

china trips are special because each visit has always been associated with a slightly different mindset. the first time as a student and complete tourist, subsequent times as a banker and at one point to potentially work for a growing company that needed someone to expand their business into 3rd tier cities in china. fortunately that didn't pan out, leading to where we are today. this time yet again things have changed, and while I am better prepared for the cold and spit-hacking citizens, I don't know what the angel investor and startup world have in store for us in the coming days.

wish us luck!

Indigo x ZAOZAO

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 17:25:00 +0000

ZAOZAO Giveaway Jan 2013

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 04:26:00 +0000

Like & Share to Win! We are giving away $8000 HKD worth of items from emerging designers on ZAOZAO. Just share your favorite post from our FB page, and make sure you like us first, so we can see who you are! Additional shares (of different posts) will increase your chances of winning from our selection of items totaling $8000. Multiple winners will be chosen. Good luck, and start sharing!

Like us here

Or use this link directly if you've already liked us!

hello, new year!

noreply@blogger.com (thevickywu) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 18:35:00 +0000

even as i wrapped up writing the note for our readers in next week's newsletter, it's still hard to believe that yet another year has gone, and a new one has come in to take its place.

thankfully, this blog has captured many of the ups and downs and documented the milestones of 2012 for ZAOZAO. the beauty of real-time reflection is that we've done it as it came, and having a publicly accountable platform such as this kept us honest. so don't expect a lengthy reflection of the year in this post, as that's what periodic posts throughout the past year were for.

we've got a lot planned for 2013, and it's going to be busy as can be! wishing everyone another year filled with happiness, success, and inspiration.

stay tuned, as there is much, much more to come...

5 Fabulous Gifts for a Fashionista

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:13:00 +0000

5 Fabulous Gifts for a Fashionista by shopzaozao on Polyvore

Only 2 weeks till Christmas and still have tons of shopping to do? No clue where to start? Well you're in luck! We've selected 5 unique accessories that are perfect for your fashionista friend.

Amazing gifts that don't break the bank? What could be better this holiday season!

Gifts for Him

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:42:00 +0000

Gifts for Him by shopzaozao featuring cardigans

Struggling to get your other half a special gift this Christmas? We've got you covered! Above are our 6 picks this season.

5 Minutes with Model Emi Matsushima

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:06:00 +0000

EMI MATSUSHIMA

"I like weird, quirky things... one-of-a-kind pieces."

A citizen of the world, half German half Japanese Emi Matsushima has lived in and traveled to dozens of countries around the world. Previously the DJ booking manager at Zouk, Emi now resides in Berlin, Germany. See photos of her personal style and browse her 2 favorite items on ZAOZAO below!

Where did you grow up?

I was born in California USA. We moved a lot because of my dad's job. Every 2-4 years...The countries I grew up in are USA, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Japan.

How did you get into modeling?

I got into modeling out of my own interest. When I was 16 and living in Germany I sent a couple of photos to an agency in Tokyo and got a reply from them. So I went to Tokyo to try it out and that’s how it all started.

What was the most memorable gig you landed?

There are many. But shooting the TV commercial for Pepsi (Japan) in the Mohave desert in the US was pretty crazy.

Behind the scenes video of one of Emi's modeling gigs

You travel quite a bit. What is your favorite city and why?

I do travel a lot and there are still so many places on my list. But I have to say my favorite city has got to be Tokyo. There is no other city like it. I didn’t grow up in Tokyo so I only got to know Tokyo when I started to go there for modeling. The city has this sense of excitement to it. Like anything is possible.

Emi's favorite picks:

Twisted Sisters' Helena Silk Jumpsuit. Pre-order it here.

Shi Jen's Cord Loose Blazer. Pre-order it here.

Curious to know more about Emi? Check out her blog here! Or head over to ZAOZAO to view dozens of new designs by some of our emerging designers. We've made lots of changes to our website to make browsing a lot easier. Let us know what you think!

ZAO on the radio

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:04:00 +0000

Despite the long, inconvenient commute (4 train rides, a shuttle bus & cab), it was a refreshing change to head out to Tai Po this afternoon after 3 long days of back to back meetings.

My co-founder Vicky.

Grand lobby at Phoenix TV (凤凰网)'s office.

One of URadio's anchors wanted to interview us for her radio segment this week. She loved our concept and was interested in finding out more about ZAOZAO and our experiences as young aspiring entrepreneurs in Hong Kong.

Entrance to URadio's office & recording rooms. Great vibe & atmosphere. Pity I didn't get to take more photos. Was too excited to check out the rest of the floor.

Us looking tired in URadio's pantry. There were oversized chess pieces hanging from the ceiling!

It was my first time doing a radio interview and had no idea what to expect. I was glad there weren't going to be any cameras as I get really uncomfortable and feel super awkward. When we were interviewed at Cocoon a few months ago, I felt soooo uncomfortable... It didn't help that we had to do several takes for some questions. Made me really self-conscious about what I was saying. I probably won't watch our interview when it comes out.... Anyways I was happy that Cate, the URadio anchor, was friendly and easygoing. Definitely helped me relax. While we waited for a recording room to free up, Cate introduced herself and Phoenix TV (their website gets over a million hits per day!), before asking some questions to get to know us better.

Me in one of the recording rooms.

Having a blast!

We weren't interviewed live which was a good thing. I got a little distracted by all the fancy equipment in the recording studio and at one point lost my train of thought as I was answering a question! Would have been really embarrassing if we were live... Come to think of it, I probably would have been really nervous about having a live audience and would have stuttered or done something equally embarrassing on air. Cate interviewed us in English & translated what we were saying into Mandarin for about 20 minutes and then gave us a private tour of the Phoenix TV building (check out more photos on our Facebook). It was a fun, new experience. The interview should be out next week. We will let you guys know!

A Day in the Life

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:30:00 +0000

People are always asking what my "typical" work day is like. I decided to keep a diary to give you guys a glimpse into the life of a budding entrepreneur. Enjoy!

FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 23, 2012)

8am. Peeling myself out of bed is the hardest part of my day. I usually set at least 2 alarms on 2 different phones and put them on opposite sides of my room. I instinctively reach for my Blackberry to check emails while glued to my bed.

10am. After washing up & getting dressed, I log on to our admin site to see what's been funded on ZAOZAO. I'm disappointed to see there's been no funding activity. I make a list of items that are "expiring" soon so that I can make outfit sets, trend reports or wish lists to push the item across all our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Polyvore). I log onto Google Analytics next to see how many visitors came to our site and blog the day before. The main things I look at are which cities our traffic is coming from, how visitors are finding out about ZAOZAO (whether it's direct, organic or by referral) and what they are reading.

11.15am. I rush to the bus stop down the road. It starts pouring.

11.45am. I finally get on a mini bus but am stuck in traffic because it's pissing rain. I'm going to be late to my lunch meeting which really irritates me. I hate it when people are late and always try to be punctual, which I am, 99% of the time.

12pm. I get off the mini bus and sprint to the MTR station. Why is everyone moving so slowly?!

12.20pm. I arrive at the restaurant 20 mins late and feel awful. Thank god Vicky already started the meeting and all seems well. We soon find out one of our designers is a mutual friend of the lady we are eating with. Hong Kong is so small! The meeting goes well and I make plans to have a follow up meeting in the beginning of December.

1.30pm. Vicky & I decide not to go to our office in Shatin because it's too far (at this point it will take more than 75 mins to get there). Cocoon here we come!

1.45pm. I have a soft spot for Cocoon. I love the space (14,000 sq. ft!) and the people. Everyone is so nice and friendly. I chat with Rayfil (one of the first Cocoonians I met) and Stephen (who's girlfriend is one of our designers). I bump into Patrick (an Entrepreneur in Residence at Cocoon. He co-founded Rotten Tomatoes & Alive Not Dead) and thank him for introducing us to another entrepreneur in Hong Kong. We update him about ZAOZAO and briefly chat about ways to raise awareness and drive traffic. He suggests we chat with Dan (co-founder of Xanga) so Vicky & I arrange to meet Dan next week. I catch up on some work emails. Vicky and I brainstorm ideas.

4pm. It's time to get moving again. We head to Central for our meeting at Holly Brown.

4.30pm. We meet Alexandra from Luxe Nomad, a Singapore-based luxury travel startup. Alex mentions she enjoys reading our blog and I make a mental note to try and blog more. We talk about the benefits of working for a startup, different marketing strategies and more. Alex and I realize we have a lot of friends in common. What a small world!

5pm. Our meeting with Alexandra is cut short because my 5pm has arrived. I finally get to meet fashion blogger Bryant Lee, who has been working with ZAOZAO. His interviews ZAOZAO designers who have had successfully funded projects for his blog series "Designer's Perspective", which. Bryant & I hit it off instantly. He's stylish, funny and very entertaining! I don't remember being half as interesting when I was 16! We talk about everything & anything: bloggers, MMM x H&M's latest collaboration, Wong Fu and the fact he's a triplet (I met his sister a few days before to discuss how ZAOZAO can collaborate with HKIS' student-run charity fashion show next year. She's polite, smart and nice. I immediately ask if she would like to intern for us). I feel really old when Bryant asks if I'm married, and secretly shed a tear inside.

6.30pm. Still at Holly Brown, I'm alone at last. I go through emails again and am delighted that a fashion organization in Hong Kong has replied to my email so promptly. I notice the subject title of my email is marked as "SPAM" and confused/worried. Ugh! How many of my other emails have ended up in spam folders? I've sent dozens of emails over the last few months that gone unanswered. I always assumed the other party wasn't interested and just didn't have the decency to reply. I frantically google words that are considered "spammy". I glance at myself in the mirror and notice how tired I look. Not a pretty sight.

9pm. I decide to call it an early night. I'm exhausted and don't feel like socializing. I head home and go through the rest of my emails. My to-do-list grows by the second. I focus on the top 3 things I need to work on this weekend: a business proposal, interview questions for a magazine feature and a story submission for an entrepreneur book.

11pm. All I can think about is ZAO ZAO ZAO ZAO ZAO but I can barely keep my eyes open. It's time to sleep. Till tomorrow...

Dear Santa

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:03:00 +0000

1. Ek Thongprasert's Savoy Affair Necklace
2. Taara's Gold Crystal Bracelet
3. Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses
4. Aerin's Limited Edition Winter Rose Lipstick
5. Edge of Ember's Anja Necklace
6. Diptyque scented candle

What's on your wish list this Christmas?

December Giveaway: Social Goods Celine Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:56:00 +0000

8 lucky readers will win Social Goods' Celine Necklace. Head over to Chloe Ting's fashion blog to be part of our first giveaway! All you have to do is like us on Facebook and sign up on our site. 11 more days till the winners are selected so hurry now! We've already have over 500 entries!

Totes Fab!

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 02:50:00 +0000

For a casual and relaxed outfit, I'd wear denim shorts with an oversized knitted sweater, paired with a Dannijo Vala Necklace & Diptyque perfume. To store my laptop, charger and other essentials, I'd use Social Good's White Tote Bag. I'm constantly on the go so comfort and practicability are key.

Social Goods' totes are available for pre-order on ZAOZAO now.

The tote is light, machine-washable, affordably priced and environmentally friendly. Rugs in different styles and colors are sourced from various local neighborhood stores in Hong Kong. Local artisans from HNDSME Co-op then hand-weave different combinations of fabrics and colors to produce unique patterns. If your worried about getting the bag dirty, the tote is also available for pre-order in black. Read more about Social Goods here.

Hello world

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:52:00 +0000

Sorry for the lack of updates! Somewhere between preparing for our launch and realizing how many family/friends/ex-colleages were reading our blog, I became hyper-conscious about what I was putting out into the blogosphere (you may have noticed some of my posts have vanished/been edited). I'm still trying to get used to being active on social media. Not a natural habit to form considering I used to be the biggest online hermit.

Quick update in case you're not following us on Facebook or if you haven't signed up for our newsletter (You should. We don't spam - who has time for that?), ZAOZAO has had 19 successfully funded designs from 12 emerging designers in 4 different countries since we launched our beta site at the end of September! You can view all the designs here. Bryant over at FashonCrave has also started a series of short designer interviews which you should definitely check out. You've heard Vicky & I talk about the benefits of crowdfunding, but you haven't heard from the designers themselves. Did they know what crowdfunding was when we first approached them? What were their initial thoughts about this concept? Did they have any hesitations about coming onboard? You can find out all about it here and here.

Also, going forward you'll be seeing a lot more of "me" coming through in our content. Yes, the outfit sets, trends, style crushes etc. you've been seeing on Facebook and Instagram were all created by me, but I've been pushing it as ZAOZAO's identity. That will be changed in the coming weeks. I think it'd be interesting to show how different Vicky & I are in terms of personality and style.

For now, here are 2 outfit photos:

The new norm: instagramming all day, everyday.

Follow my personal account @liingy for more photos like this. View all my Instagram photos here.

ps. Am also trying to feel more comfortable camwhoring. Might be a while before you actually see my head/face in photos hahaha!

What a Stud!

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:59:00 +0000

Studs have been everywhere from Givenchy's leather jackets to Burberry's trenches (and quite literally, everything in Zara).

Interested in rocking this trend without looking like an edgy biker chick? Then check out Edge of Ember's Padma Earrings. You'll be adding it to your Christmas wish list in no time!

What a Stud! by shopzaozao featuring animal print earrings

5 minutes with Model Kimberly Verge

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 07:38:00 +0000

KIM VERGE

Hi Kim, how did you get into modeling?

I've always wanted to model/act since I was little. I think a scout got it in my head when we were on vacation once when she came up to me (I was only 7) and my parents and asked if I wanted to/could be a model with their agency. But my Dad always said, "Not until you finish school... Unless Elite asks you." And one day, soon after we moved to Hong Kong, I got scouted by Elite here!!! What are the chances hahaha! So my Dad had to live up to his word and let me do it part-time but still insisted I finish my studies and get a University degree. Finally got that done and am now modeling full-time. :)

Nivea Thailand Campaign
Kimberly Verge V1 from Billy Rood on Vimeo.

What was your most memorable modeling gig?

It definitely has to be the TVC we filmed in New York last July. It was a high budget TVC and we got to do so many amazing things with such a fun crew. We rented out a hangar with a private jet and filmed a bunch of action sequences there as well as sky diving scenes. We also had chase scenes in Lamborghinis with stunt men on motorcycles in downtown Manhattan. All to be contrasted with gorgeous shots at the High Line and Central Park. It was the first time I was casted as a female action hero! It was extremely Inception-meets-Mission-Impossible-esque. LOTS of fun!

What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done?

Sky diving. And it was surprisingly not as scary as I thought it would be. The whole thing was very peaceful.

Top 3 things on your bucket list?

1. Swim with sharks (preferably Great Whites)

2. Learn to surf

3. Start a non-profit organisation to help people in need

How would you describe your style in 3 words?
Simple, ever-evolving & comfortable.

Where do you usually shop?

It varies so much; it really depends on my mood. Some days I'm feeling more feminine and others more more laid-back. My most frequented online stores have to be asos.com and nastygal.com though, and soon enough newly introduced shopzaozao.com!!! Offline - everywhere and anywhere! I don't discriminate!

Lastly, what are some of your favorite items on ZAOZAO?

Artessorio's Floriana Messenger Bag with White Lining.

Kim: Absolutely love this bag! Very elegant and feminine. Would be perfect to carry around my book during the day for casting and would DEFINITELY pair this with a more elegant look at night.

Artessorio's Giuletta Clutch

Kim: Simple & classy. Love the colors and print. Would be very easy to pair with an outfit for a day out in the city.

Bubble Mood's NY Kimono

Kim: Definitely at-home-lounging material. Looks so soft and comfortable!!! I love the electric blue print too.

Taara's Silver Crystal Bangle

Kim: Gorgeous piece to dress up any little black dress.

To shop Kim's selection of ZAOZAO items or browse other unique designs, head to our site now! Read more designer and model interviews on our blog.

Our Designers: Twisted Sisters

noreply@blogger.com (liingy) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:08:00 +0000

TWISTED SISTERS

"Show the world from inside out."

Tell us a little more about yourself.

I grew up in Toronto, and studied fashion design at Ryerson University. I love adventures, beautiful and also out-of-the-norm things, and travel whenever I have time.

Why did you choose to name your label "Twisted Sisters"?

The word "Twisted" gives a hidden and darker mood and also means that there is something different from what it seems to appear. We want to incorporate this idea into our collections, meaning that each piece might seem ordinary at first, but actually has something unique about it. It might be a detail that one wouldn't expect or another way to wear the piece.

We used the word "Sisters", because it has two meanings. Firstly, I do have two sisters, who we share fashion tips with. Secondly, we also want to eventually extend to menswear (Twisted Brothers), maternity wear (Twisted Mommies), and even Children's wear (Twisted Babies). Turning Twisted Sisters into a lifestyle brand.

How would you describe your personal style? Do your designs reflect this?

My style is ever-changing, diverse, and effortless chic. Yes, it definitely reflects in my collections. I love contrasting and experiment different styles. The final pieces that I had designed are all pieces that I would love to wear myself.

What's a typical workday like for you?

Start of with a fresh cup of coffee at nearby cafe, while browsing through blogs and design sites. Depends of what time of the year it is, it can range from illustrating on my sketchbook or fitting samples in my studio, researching new fabrics/trends or meetings with buyers. Finish off a hard day with a glass of Chardonnay or bubbles.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your lingerie?

Every single Women. Being a modern women myself, I understand that the power of beauty lies in confidence. If one feels in peace with herself, then she will glow from inside to outside, which is our motto; show the world from inside out.

Every women has a different story and is always amazing to hear them, which inspires me in lots of different ways.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a designer in Hong Kong versus Canada?

I think the main advantages of being in HK is the location and its dynamic. It is much easier for me to travel for inspiration and work, and HK's busy lifestyle keeps the vibe going. Yet, in Canada, everything is more relax and calm, which is also a very soothing environment for inspiration. That's why I have a studio both in Toronto and in HK.

What’s next?

We are excited to start our FW13 and Holiday 13 collection soon, and we have lots of press and interviews scheduled. We are starting to explore different markets and expanding our stockists on/off line rapidly.

Pre-order Twisted Sisters' lingerie here. Check out Twisted Sister's site, Facebook & Twitter.