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Materialterial
Ma

Girls

It’s not easy to make it in fashion,’s not easy to make it in fashion,’s not easy to make it in fashion,
It It
especially in the age of global reach and
especiall
especially in the age of global reach and y in the age of global reach and y in the age of global reach and
especiall
sour
sour
sour
sour
sour
sourcing, but two working girls in Bangkok
sourcing, but two working girls in Bangkok cing, but two working girls in Bangkok cing, but two working girls in Bangkok cing, but two working girls in Bangkok cing, but two working girls in Bangkok cing, but two working girls in Bangkok
have made use o
have made use o
have made use of their textile savvy f their textile savvy f their textile savvy f their textile savvy
have made use of their textile savvy
have made use o
r
relatives and launched online fashion brandelatives and launched online fashion brand
relatives and launched online fashion brand
KIR
KIR
KIRAN X PAWANAAN X PAWANAAN X PAWANAAN X PAWANA
KIR
KIRAN X PAWANA with great success.
BY CARON LAU
“This is not just about
making money for us; it’s
Who are the girls behind the brand? Our job is to translate that vision through our three
“I’m Kiran Koghar,” the elder of the glamourous sisters support teams, comprising designer, pattern cutter about putting together a
tells us. “She’s fi ve years older than me,” Pawana and machinist, in addition to getting the word out
Koghar adds, smiling. “But she’s the bossy one,” Kiran there via social media and so on.” brand that we are delighted
says, and the two start laughing. They are clearly the
best of friends. “We’re both married,” Kiran says. “And Describe the KIRAN x PAWANA brand for us? to wear ourselves!”
I have a 15 month-old son,” says Pawana. “She’s a “Think stylish, think exclusive and think clothes you
full-time English teacher and a wedding planner,” says can wear for work as well as the after-work party,”
Pawana, “and I’m a senior VP at Phatra Securities.” says Pawana. “We wanted to fi ll what we perceive as a Tell us about your latest collection?
gap in the market for women with curves, so we stock “We just completed the photo shoot for our latest
“KIRAN X PAWANA is our passion project,” Kiran sizes from XS to XL, and even do customised clothes collection — called Dream — two days ago,” Kiran tells
explains, and I start to wonder how much passion they for those who want them. We don’t usually do more me. “It comprises mostly blue to black tones, with a
can have left with such busy lives. than 15 to 30 pieces of each item so that we can give splash of pastel. Expect summer twead jackets, jump
our customers exclusivity.” suits and more. And for the next collection, we’re
How did the brand come about? going all out summer with mainly pastels and denim.”
“Like all great businesses, I suppose, it came about What are the brand’s strengths?
more to fi ll a need than anything else,” Pawana “Our family’s textile knowledge and connections. This What are some bestsellers?
starts. “Yes,” agrees Kiran. “We both needed gowns to has proved to be our winning ticket,” Kiran says, “We “All our pants do really well,” Kiran tells me, “we get
attend our brother’s wedding and set about designing source our materials from Japan. And we now heavily orders for those every day. Our black jump suit is
our own.” Funnily enough, this wasn’t enough of a emphasise the quality of the stitching too. We’re after doing so well that we’ve repeated it a few times now.
push to get the two sisters started, but it was enough a high-quality fi nish.” Another persistent bestseller is our long chiff on top
to inspire their brother instead. He was the one who with a high slit.”
fi rst came up with the brand’s name — which his Is it for all ages and sizes?
sisters hated back then — and their debut collection Pawana replies: “Yes, for all sizes and for the young Which Thai celebrities are going for the KxP look?
back in October 2015. “Soon after that, we just took at heart.” “Prang and Lydia have both been photographed in KxP,”
over,” continues Pawana. “I suppose it was something Pawana says. “We also have a famous blogger from
we’d always wanted to do, and our families were What’s the price point? India — Masoom — who just loves our clothes!”
really supportive.” “B1,500 for everyday shirts, B1,800 for pants and
B2,500 for a dress,” says Pawana. “And B5,000 for a You’ve started participating in exhibitions. Tell us
Who’s the designer? customised cocktail dress,” adds Kiran. about those?
“We both are, though neither of us has any fashion “Yes, we love going to fairs and events.” Kiran starts.
background!” Kiran explains. “We just do our research Which brands would you say most resemble your own? “It’s so great to see people wearing our clothes. We’ve
on what styles, colours and fabrics are currently “Zara and Mango,” says Kiran. started exhibiting in Hong Kong as well to get more
trending and create our own designs from there. exposure in the industry and keep ahead of the trends.”
What’s your marketing
strategy? What would be your biggest ‘we’re not going there
“As well as a strong push through again’ experience’?
social media channels, we also “Mistakes, we’ve defi nitely made a few,” says Pawana.
fi nd our cheese and wine parties “But we’re happy to say we’ve moved on from there.
at home work well,” Pawana says. In the beginning, I think we used to go for the cheaper
“We just invite friends, customers options, but soon learnt to get pickier. This is not just
and potential purchasers to drop about making money for us; it’s about putting together
in and have some refreshment, a brand that we are delighted to wear ourselves.”
and, without any pressure, they
can try on our clothes and make How would you like the brand to evolve?
purchases. We also have what we “We want everyone to know who we are,” says
call ‘goodie bags’, where we send Pawana. “Yes,” Kiran agrees, “we want brand
off several pieces in a bag that recognition, and to let everyone know that we cater to
we feel a specifi c client would be everyone – whatever their age or size.” “And,” Pawana
interested in. They send them all adds thoughtfully, “I think one day we would both like
back if they don’t like them; it’s to only be doing this, though that’s a long way ahead!”
all very relaxed, but most of the
time, they keep a couple and send Browse the latest KxP collections on their
back the money.” Instagram Page: kiranxpawana
Pawana Koghar Kiran Koghar

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