Hong Kong-based Fiona Kotur talks work-life balance and accessories design
Designer who worked with Ralph Lauren, Gap and Tory Burch before setting up her eponymous label tells Dervla Louli that, with four children to raise and a business to run, she's learned to prioritise
New York-born, Hong Kong-based Fiona Kotur talks about the highs and lows of a career designing luxury accessories.
"I have a great life and am very grateful for the chance to enjoy family, be creative and do business - but it can be stressful, and a lot falls through the cracks. What I've learned is to let things go and constantly prioritise, because you really cannot do it all, all the time."
"The market collapse of 2008 - I remember being in Neiman Marcus in Houston, Texas [in the United States], for a meet-the-designer event. It was the day after Lehman Brothers failed and not one person entered that mall the entire day. I stood there like a potted plant with the sales people and not one customer. We sold to 200 accounts in the US and most folded or could not pay. We got through [the crisis] by reaching fast agreements with key retailers."
"Variety creates interest and allows you to push the limits with creativity, so the more editorial pieces balance the more commercial ones. On the whole, the best collections include an element of surprise - after all, you're not buying an iron or a vacuum cleaner. Of course, bags and shoes have a practical nature, but they need to appeal to something more - a touch of inspiration."
"We have a dedicated social-media team. It's amazing to receive such immediate feedback; within seconds. The challenge is to consistently respond 24/7 in real time. With social media, you need to be on top of things. We are on Weibo, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram … in every time zone. We have to act fast and we are all on our devices all day and night."