Thu, May 11, 2006 - Page 13 News List

The allure of the new

By Jules Quartly  /  STAFF REPORTER

Other trademark Hung designs include combining old and new, Victoriana with the street, denim with lace -- adding two big pockets to a stylish cocktail dress. She wants to promote a look that is Audrey Hepburn for the 21st century and keep introducing foreign cultures.

Hsieh Yung-hsu (謝詠絮), a lecturer in the fashion design department at Shih Chien University (實踐大學), was impressed by the energy of Hung's show last weekend but said it was "fashion as a statement rather than as clothes."

"When I see her work I feel it's European and fun. You can create your own style by mixing and matching. That's what I find so attractive and makes her one of our leading young designers.

"There is a growing stage in Taiwan, and you don't always have to be successful from a selling point of view these days. A designer can have just one store and still have a big influence."

Though fashion is obviously central for Hung, it's not everything and at one point in our interview she said it was not important.

"I'm not trying to be fashionable. Some of our customers don't understand this. I'm just giving them something they don't know, bringing a new culture or look. What I like about fashion is that there is no prejudice and everything is good if you know how to put it together."

As for the business of fashion, Hung was ambivalent and described her job as taking money from people who are able to give it away.

"Money is just a figure. But it's important, otherwise you can't do good things. The numbers have to look good. The good thing about making money is there are thousands of good ways of giving it back."

She then talked about a local motivational group, Round Table, that has helped her come to terms with success and appreciate people more.

"In the beginning it was always very important for me to be successful, but that doesn't make you happy. I was always chasing something. The important thing is not money, it's people."

Hung said she is already working on her next fashion show, which will have a fairy tale theme. She's also thinking of ways to return the fortune she has been favored with and may open an old people's home after all, through her charity work.

"I don't want to talk about it any more, I just want to do it."

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