Interview With Fashion Designer Danica Zheng

We had the chance to speak to Danica Zheng, the designer behind Pamplemousse. After studying at Parsons, working on a Calvin Klein collection, and interned for various major fashion houses including Narciso Rodriguez, Carolina Herrera and Jen Kao, she launched her line. And totally nailed it! Her debut collection was modern, minimal, very feminine and effortless-chic, do we need to say more? We’re excited to see what she creates next.

Tia Teilli: When did you know you wanted to be a fashion designer?

Without even realizing what it meant, I would drape my bath towel on myself in different ways as a kid to make ‘dresses’, but it was only till the end of high school when I submitted two dresses as my A-Level Art Thesis I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer.

Tia Teilli: Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?

It’s a combination of my immediate environment, education background and keeping up with the world. The way we dress is always related to our culture, environment, as well as the mindset we are in.

Tia Teilli: We are completely in love with your SS16 collection, could you tell us more about it, what inspired you?

The inspiration originally came from Japanese bondage photographs by Nobuyoshi Araki, it was extremely erotic in nature by itself but given a romantic twist by the weightless silk and a pastel palette. It’s a collection that celebrates femininity and delicacy of the beauty of women but at the same time injected with a sporty modern touch.

Tia Teilli: If you could have a celebrity spokesmodel representing PAMPLEMOUSSE, who would it be?

I am currently obsessed with Lily Rose Depp. She really represents a new generation and would be the perfect spokesmodel representing Pamplemousse.

Tia Teilli: What do you enjoy most about designing clothes?

I love the problem solving aspect of design. While there is no limit to ideas and inspiration, to make a successful collection, it is all about finding solutions to realize your ideas into clothing that accentuates a woman’s body, reflects a mindset and represents a state of society we are in today.

Tia Teilli: Where do you see yourself in the future? Any new projects?

I am currently working on SS17.

In the future, you are most likely to see me looking for magic and inspiration in every corner of the city, sketching while sipping coffee and reminding every person to slow down every now and then to look at themselves as the children they once were, look around themselves and appreciate the beauty of every simple joy our world has offered to us.

Thank you Danica for this great interview!

photos: Pamplemousse