What's in a name?

What started off as an adventure to China five years ago has shaped Julia Koo into a fashion brand for Asian-infused clothing and accessories that continues to evolve and expand to this day.

Inspired by the beautiful silk fabrics she saw upon arriving in China in 2004 with her former husband and their two children, the designer felt moved "to create something new".

Using pure Chinese silks, the British-Canadian entrepreneur, with a background in marketing and branding, began designing beautiful kimono-inspired house robes with a modern twist.

What started as gifts for her boyfriend and friends grew into a stylish collection of lounge wear in a panoply of colors, from classic aubergine hues to lime green and carnation pink, with an array of intricately embroidered belts to mix and match.

Koo opened her first boutique, Human Nature, in the city's Taikang Road quarters two years ago, appealing to Chinese, Japanese, European and American clients.

Now she is focusing her efforts on making a name for herself. Keeping her ex-husband's Chinese surname, she is re-branding her creations under the name Julia Koo.

"I ran into difficulty using Human Nature when I started selling to the States so I decided to use my own name," explains Koo, who is working on developing her distribution network overseas and planning to launch an online shop this fall.

The designer has also expanded her line of robes to include matching pyjama pants and shorts, and stylish wrap-around dresses and tops for outdoor wear. Another highlight is her floor-sweeping kaftans in silk chiffon, a failsafe summer accessory. Prints range from Koo's own custom-designed patterns to classic Chinese motifs and floral designs, lined with alternate colors or playful splashes of leopard print.

"I don't want my collection to be too Chinese," says Koo, speaking from the top floor of her modest little boutique, with the lilting sounds of a Spanish guitar floating around the room. "Shanghai is an eclectic mix of aesthetics and that's what I want to achieve. I take inspiration from my life and travels. As well as Chinese silk and kimonos, I love Spain, especially its music and colors," reveals Koo, who is also an avid flamenco dancer.

Koo is further branching out to produce a line of printed cotton garments as well as a range of silky soft handmade blankets, table runners and other home dcor items from leftover silk fabrics. In addition, she has conceived a secondary "Sacred Peace" collection that consists of modern-day talismans to be used as jewellery or decorative hangings. The striking pieces are created from precious stones such as moonstone, onyx and quartz, all carrying blessings of peace and love.

Combining a lively mix of cross-cultural inspirations, Julia Koo's collection is a breath of fresh air and one to watch out for.

Julia Koo

Lane 210, Building 2, Taikang Road

̩泰康路210弄2号楼

Tel: 5465-3585

www.juliakoo.com

(China Daily 06/06/2009 page14)