{ DESIGN POST }

Welcome to the fourth part of our designer profile series (you can read previous posts here, here and here). Today we are chatting with Julia Fong! 

Coming from a background in fine art, garment construction and fashion design, Julia joined the Citta Design team in 2014 as a clothing designer. She has played a major role in the creation of our exciting womenswear collection this season and has worked her pattern-making magic to create some perfectly fitted pieces that we can’t wait to get our hands on! We had a chance to catch up with her to talk about her design process, inspiration and how she started out in the creative field.

Where/how did you begin your career in design?

I gained a Bachelor of Fine Art which served as a good base for me to get into the creative field. From there I trained in pattern-making and garment construction, and then had many years working in the industry training with designer Marilyn Sainty.

Who or what inspires you?

It can start quite abstractly – a composition and balance of shapes, textures and colours. Then I start picturing how it fits and hangs on a body. When you are inspired and connecting with a particular city like we do each season at Citta Design then those cultural cues also manifest themselves in the design.

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

During the design stage I am often in my workroom sketching in my book and cutting up shapes in fabric. Other parts of my day involve collaborating with the designers and buying team and organising for garments to be put into production.

What’s your favourite piece or design from the winter 2015 collection?

I do have a few but if I had to pick one it would be the Classic Merino Blazer because I worked really hard on it to get it to fit just right. It also services my need for a smart and comfy jacket that I can fold up in my travel bag and it comes out still looking good at the other end!

What does 'chic' mean for you?

When I think of 'chic' I think of understated elegance. But it’s not just the about the clothes, it’s also an attitude that exudes confidence and metaphorically owning what you wear.