G.O.D Fall/Winter collection

G.O.D. most definitely is very high on my list of places to go for unique and funky housewares and accessories and for Christmas my first year in Hong Kong my suitcase was filled with G.O.D. gifts for pretty much everyone on my holiday list. While G.O.D. is simply fabulous for things like this I have started to realize that their clothing section is worth giving a bit of love too. We recently received the latest fashion catalogue from G.O.D. which features their Fall/Winter collection and there are certainly a few things that have definitely caught my attention. Here are my two personal favourites…

We had a chance to sit down with Beatrice Lee from G.O.D. who had a part in the creative process of the collection and was even lucky enough to be a model in the ad campaign. Yes, that is Beatrice in the two pictures in her interview below. Doesn’t her job sound so fun!

What was the inspiration behind the Fall/Winter 2010 collection? The inspiration behind many of the pieces in our Fall/Winter 2010 collection is, and always has been, effortless style, which is something that I would attribute to my boss, Douglas Young. He and I both share that in common — a more casual approach to fashion; dressing comfortably, and feeling good on the outside as well as on the inside. After all, our clothes are a reflection of who we are, right? This season, we just kept with that design mentality and built upon it using current trends and our own personal styles and interests. He says that there is a bit of an American college look to some of these designs in particular, with the hooded shirts, puffy vests and jackets, and sweater vests and cardigans, but we have made sure to stay true to the Chinese roots in cutting and print.

How does this line differ from other G.O.D collections in the past? This particular line doesn’t stretch too far from our previous collections, but as I had a hand in selecting many of the fabrics that we ended up using for pieces such as our button-down hooded shirts, the backless ladies shirt with the Chinese collar, and the large ladies poncho, it can be said that we made use of more western fabrics this season. Actually, we have never featured a line with more diversity in clothing references and types!

Did you play any specific role in the creation of the new line? Our latest collection is particularly dear to me because, on top of being involved in the fabric selection, I got to sit down with Douglas and actually brainstorm ideas with him — what to do with this fabric, how to cut that fabric, which fabrics to combine to create what look, etc. Some of the pieces have even been inspired by some raggedy, cut-up shirts or long pants that I’ve worn into work that Douglas just…liked. Our approach has been called “unconventional,” but it works. I’ve learned a lot from him, and about my own personal style. I’m very lucky to have been a part of such an uniquely creative process.

Are the models used in the ad campaign professional models? Douglas is keen on using unprofessional models as models, as he feels it reflects the style of our clothes the best. A lot of the faces and bodies you see in our ads actually belong to past summer interns. Even I’ve experienced being yanked up from my desk without any sort of forewarning, only to partake in a photo shoot which somehow winds up in print! The bottom line is, this method of presenting our clothes is natural; our look is meant to be down-to-earth and casual, without the pretention or glamour that is often associated with the more conventional image that is often associated with “professional models.”

Tell us about your favourite item from the collection? My favourite piece is, hands down, this ladies winter jacket — it is lined with super-soft polyester that makes it feel like you are wrapped up in a snuggly blanket (good for those cold winter days that are soon approaching), has a secret pocket, and comes in four different colour combinations! Plus, they are flattering on any figure! There are only a limited number of them available, as they are quite expensive (HK$680) to produce, so I would recommend snatching one up now! Shameless plug, I know, but I feel quite strongly about this design in particular. It’s funky and special.