Good SELF

Malaysian designer Han Chong talks about Self-Portrait’s Pre-Fall 2023 collection, diversifying past his first success and more

- JOAN KONG

Throwing it back to the late 2010s; it’s impossible to go a week without seeing Self-Portrait’s lace dresses — whether on your favourite celebrity or friends and family around you. 10 years on, the brand has sealed its status as a sought-after contemporary occasion wear label (its long list of It clientele including Kate Middleton, Blackpink’s Jisoo and Selena Gomez is proof). Still, to its founder and creative director, Penang-born Han Chong, there’s more he’s aiming to accomplish.

During his first trip back to Malaysia in four years, the designer spoke to us about his newly launched Pre-Fall 2023 collection (which is available at the Club 21 multilabel store at Pavilion KL), navigating the brand’s first success, what he’d like to achieve in the next decade and more.

Tell us more about your Pre-Fall 2023 collection.

We worked on our Pre-Fall 2023 collection after the pandemic; so many things — including our lifestyle and mood — have changed. At Self-Portrait, we always aim to enhance or help women to be the best version of themselves. To do that, we first need to understand their lifestyle. First and foremost, we stripped back a lot of shapes and stuck to more streamlined silhouettes. We also put extra effort into developing different fabrics, including denim, sparkles and rhinestones, because women now seek simple, wearable and versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down comfortably. We injected different joyinducing colours into the collection as we believe that women can be the best version of themselves when they are delighted, and fashion plays a big part in transforming their mood, so we want to make them feel more joyful.

Was it hard for you during the pandemic?