The 'Hello, Goodbye' collection

Suwha Hong had the sort of start in life that destined her to be a fashion designer. Travelling between New York, Korea and New England gave her ample opportunity for elaborate daydreams – that, and raiding her mother’s wardrobe. The sketches she would conjure up of princess gowns ought to have set her fashionable future career in stone. So cut to 2001 and why was Suwha graduating from Law School?

Like many of us who opt for the ‘practical’ career path, after giving five years to corporate law in New York and Boston, she was bitten by the creative bug. Realising it was designing dresses and not swotting up on the legal system that made her truly happy, Suwha moved to London (where she’s now based) to study Fashion Design and Garment Construction at London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

She launched her own label Suwha in 2007 and her collections since, aimed at women who are adventurous, independent and effortlessly stylish (like Suwha herself, then) speak for themselves. Ttraining contracts were made to be broken… Atta girl!

Her first collection in A/W08, ‘Hello, Goodbye’ debuted to resounding success and was a potently beautiful indication of things to come. What would become quintessential Suwha pieces – super-cute jackets and chic hats – were introduced with bold key details such as double leather belts and oversized buttons. The element that stood out particularly, and what undoubtedly commanded the attention of the international stores that bought in the line, (not to mention editors from Vogue et al) was the shirted fabric lining on a lot of the pieces, designed to create the feeling of being wrapped up in a man’s shirt.

A fabulous cape and hat ensemble

Suwha turned this idea on its head in her second collection, ‘Morningside Affair’ by showcasing a line of shirt-dresses amongst other separates. Notable jackets that season were the bright red PVC raincoat and tweed cape, but it was perhaps the hats which were emerging as the Korean-born designer’s piece de resistance. Having collaborated with top London-based milliner Noel Stewart, Suwha’s modern take on a classic hat (eg, a trilby with a thin bright green belt detail) was truly unique.

After exploring the trench in more detail for her A/W09 collection, ‘The Mistaken Identity of Francis Tumblety’ (Inspired by the Jack The Ripper-esque sordid history of East London – hence, detective, trench coat, get it?) Suwha is back with a bang for S/S10 and it’s here that her elegant style of designing has really come into its own.

Entitled ‘Bon Voyage’, the jackets with draped lapels, straw-woven hats and flirty high-waisted pleated skirts give a whole new meaning to the world ‘nautical’. It’s a playful collection that’s so Jackie O, it would be rude not to snap up one of the timeless little fitted jackets (or capes, check out the capes!) Suwha clearly channels the strong woman. She says she’d love to dress Michelle Obama but how we’d love her to dress us…

Find out more about Suwha online here.