Lovely lace confections at super-friendly prices. Little wonder that Self-Portrait sold out within five hours of its launch on Net-a-Porter. Find out how founder Han Chong did it.
Lovely lace confections at super-friendly prices. Little wonder that Self-Portrait sold out within five hours of its launch on Net-a-Porter. Find out how founder Han Chong did it.
Han Chong always knew he wanted to work in fashion. To pursue his dream, he left Penang – where his father worked as a butcher – for London in 2002 to study womenswear design at Central Saint Martins. He spent a decade working with fashion designers before launching Self-Portrait in 2013. You know a Self-Portrait creation immediately – it has lace and always looks beautiful and feminine.
Just ask Han’s international roll call of fans, from Michelle Obama to Kristen Stewart and Kendall Jenner. Rachel McAdams loves his work so much she was spotted in Self-Portrait three times in the same week! Even better, his pieces are accessible. Imagine getting your hands on Beyonce’s red-carpet outfit for less than $790. Now that’s something to flaunt.
What’s most unique about Self-Portrait?
I wanted to create a label that offers affordable luxury – beautiful pieces that don’t break the bank. My dresses range from $490 to $790, and separates from $360 to $530. I think no one else really does it; everything is either high street or really expensive. You took only three years to achieve what would have taken others three decades.
It started when Selfridges picked up our collection in “My S/S ’17 collection is masculine, with a lot more attitude. I injected men’s tailoring into romantic designs for a twist. I mixed feminine and masculine fabrics (like lace and khaki) to maintain a good balance. That way, the result is neither overly girlie nor sexy. It was the first time I used patent leather, which forced me to create brand-new silhouettes.”
TEXT: SARA WEE PHOTOS OF CELEBRITIES REX PHOTOS.
