New LIFE

Drawing inspirations from abstract sculptors and biomorphic forms, Malaysian designer Caro Chia talks about her eponymous label and its conception.

- BRYAN HO

Acclaimed fashion designer Carolina Herrera once said: “The difference between fashion and art is that fashion is art in movement.” This quote speaks volumes of the fashion industry and its contiguous relationship with the art world. Many of the biggest fashion houses today have referenced the past works of various artists and the congruence between the two worlds is simply undeniable.

It seems that smaller homegrown brands have also picked up on the notion. At least this is the case for Malaysian designer Kew Wai Chia, who goes by the name, Caro Chia.

Chia, who was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, started her eponymous brand after graduating from the University of Brighton. Shares Chia of her motivation behind starting her brand: “I used to struggle with how my design ideas could translate into a physical brand, but after I discovered my obsession with fashion’s relation to art, I never looked back.” As for why she opted to use her own name, Chia explains that it creates a deeper personal connection, which helps showcase her thoughts and visions in a lucid manner.