Belinda Liu - The Interview

Courtesy of Belinda LiuI recently had the chance to talk to Belinda Liu, a Romanian fashion designer who showcased her Spring/Summer 2012 collection at Vancouver Fashion Week last November. Her collection was stunning with African and Brazillian inspired details, mini dresses with large paisley prints and long, layered, chiffon evening gowns. Her designs were feminine, flirty yet classic and sophisticated. Here is what she had to say about her background, where she finds her inspiration for her collections and her company.

SP: What inspired you to become a fashion designer?

BL: It is not easy to speak about inspiration. I guess I somehow felt I could design garments which would make women look good which then turned to be urge to see and prove whether I could really do it. When I think about fashion design I do not think about a certain moment in time when “it” happened. It started naturally, when I was little. Every piece of material that came in my hands ended up in a sort of garment for my dolls or even for me. Doing it professionally was rather a daring business decision.

SP: Can you tell me a bit about your background? How long have you been designing for? 

BL: I am a self-taught designer. I am half Romanian, half Chinese. In May 2009 I had my first fashion show, in Bucharest. The collection’s name was : The Emancipation of Lolita” and it combined the Chinese street fashion –a kind of gothic Lolita- with the classical and feminine European style. The result was a mixture between girlish and feminine, crazy and classy, cool and glamour. This was followed by a new series of collections which overall resulted into a positive evolution of my designs which I believe is traceable from on collection to the other. In 2010 I was the first Romanian designer to attend London Fashion Week, which helped me a lot to broaden my professional horizon in terms of gaining an international perspective over the industry. My studies were always related to art. I’ve been studying music, drawing, foreign languages, professional makeup and so many more but I didn't go to an art university. I actually did something completely different: law school. But since I started high school, I designed my own clothes and soon after, started to run my own fashion business.

SP: Your Spring/ Summer 2012 collection was absolutely stunning at Vancouver Fashion Week! What was your inspiration for this collection?

BL: The account for clothing worn in different cultures has been an influence to the collection. The collection "Salvador" largely derives from the art and garments of African and Brazilian origin. My creations are however tempered in favor of a more occidental esthetic perception particularly through fabrics and colors. I have preferred lighter diaphanous colors of blue, white and yellow to vivid stains and strong patterns typically associated with traditional African clothes.  The ethnical origin of the garments is yet visible in their cuts, finesse and accessories such as furbelows and head wraps. The Salvador collection sustains a growing trend towards naturalism with a touch of simplify and comfort. Clothes of white immaculate cotton, soft semi-transparent fabrics of light appearance call for a return to nature.

SP: Was this your first time to showcase your collection at Vancouver Fashion Week?

BL: Yes. It was a great experience. I believe the fashion world in Vancouver has a lot more potential. There is high interest and a high demand for designer garments which still needs to be explored.

SP: What is your favourite piece from your Spring/ Summer 2012 collection and why?

BL: I do not have a favorite one. I have worked hard for every single one of them and I like each piece in its own way.

SP: What is your favourite type of fabric to work with?

BL: That depends on my mood, also the season. I keep an open-mind to all the fabrics. I sometimes surprise myself by choosing to work for a certain collection with a fabric I never worked before. For example, my future 2012 fall collection: I even introduced latex which I could not conceive to use a couple of years ago.

SP: Do you incorporate current colour, fabric and style trends into your designs when designing a new collection?

BL: Perhaps I do but not deliberately. Incorporating style trends to a certain degree usually comes naturally.

SP: What was the hardest part about starting your own company?Courtesy of Belinda Liu

Many issues related to business management need to be dealt with on a daily basis. There are obstacles related to production, trade, marketing and sales. Design comes hand in hand with running a fashion label and this is a continuous effort. Design is not a romantic occupation made by a princess in the castle tower. The best thing, for me is that I actually do what I love to do. The worst thing is that creation does not always fit together with business management. Setting my mind on the day to day management issues is actually a big challenge.

SP: You state in your company philosophy that you are, "trying to obtain perfection in feminism no matter if it’s said that this does not exist." How are you trying to obtain feminism in your designs?

BL: First of all there are a couple of things that need to be avoided. I think many designers, equally young but also notable ones make this tremendous mistake: in the pursuit to achieve a high exposure they endeavor to just shock the audience by displaying various extravagant creations often accompanied by awkward accessories. Hiding behind a statement that everything is permitted in fashion, they simply forget that clothes are supposed to make a women look good, clothes are designated to enhance a women's beauty, clothes need to serve a purpose for women. I always take account of this simple rule: don't compromise the women wearing a garment on the account of the label. There is an infinity of ways to be creative, adding value to fashion and promoting feminism. 

SP: I noticed on your website that you designed a bridal collection for Bucharest Fashion Week in 2010. What inspired you to design a bridal collection? Are you still designing wedding dresses?

BL: The day I have launched my first bride collection was a lucky one. The same day I was offered the award for the best Romanian young designer of 2010. I still design wedding dresses. The fact that a wedding is such a special occasion for a future bride makes it worth putting all efforts into the actual design of the dress.

SP: What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own company in the fashion industry? 

BL: Don’t do it as a business only. Unless you really love fashion it will become a burden.

It was great to talk to Belinda and see her collection at Vancouver Fashion Week. We hope she comes back again soon to showcase her next unique collection. For more information about her designs you can check out her website at http://belindaliu.com.