A Flowy Edge
Focusing primarily on bridal gowns, Taiwanese-American designer Minna Kao creates pieces that are polished and refined with minimal designs and fluid silhouettes. Off-white, floor-length, multi-tiered, the MinnaK gowns are sophisticated and contemporary...
Focusing primarily on bridal gowns, Taiwanese-American designer Minna Kao creates pieces that are polished and refined with minimal designs and fluid silhouettes. Off-white, floor-length, multi-tiered, the MinnaK gowns are sophisticated and contemporary, accentuating the wearer’s grace and femininity.
A Houston native, Kao is slender and soft-spoken. Not much of the South is evident in her, which might be because she’s been living in New York for 10 years now. Identifying herself as a New Yorker, Kao has traveled to cities of fashion inspiration such as Paris and Tokyo. Influenced by diverse aesthetic sensibilities, Kao started her own label, MinnaK, in 2006 and officially launched it in 2009.
Based in New York, Kao is actually heavily affected by her experience in Paris. Right after she graduated from the University of Texas with a fashion design degree, Kao moved to Paris for apprenticeships with Alan Faye and Diane Pernet. During the six months she was in Paris, Kao was exposed to haute couture in a way she had never been before. Just like that, Kao made up her mind that she wanted to become a couturier, and moved to New York to pursue a fashion career.
“[The craft of haute couture] is not evident in New York,” Kao says. “One of the closest high-end type of fashion is bridal because they do a lot of custom work and really beautiful fabrics.”
With years of experience working for different bridal companies, Kao was finally able to launch her own line. The decision proved to be a wise one. Just recently Kao was invited to be part of Nolcha New York Fashion Week, where her collection received industry raves.
When she isn’t working around the clock for fashion weeks, Kao still has her mind on fashion. As life serves as her endless source of inspiration, Kao gets all kinds of interesting ideas especially when she travels.
“Just [this past year], I went to Barcelona ... That was inspiring,” Kao says. “I’d say Paris would always be an inspiration to me because that’s what changed my whole outlook on fashion.”
With American roots and European training, Kao treasures her Asian heritage as well. Tokyo, as one of the most significant global fashion capitals, has a huge effect on Kao’s design inclinations, one of which is clean lines.
“I’d say my designs are very clean and modern with an edge or with a twist,” Kao says. “I make a point to make my bridal [pieces] to be a little different. It’s more functional. Actually it’s quite versatile as well. It could actually be converted to evening wear.”
Practicality these days comes as the priority on many designers’ lists. Kao is no exception.
“For this collection I’m working on, I’ve been thinking about making a long skirt and then taking it off making a short skirt for the reception,” Kao says. “I really want to keep it modern for the modern woman.”
So, among all the modern female celebrities, who would Kao want to dress up as a bride? The first that pops in Kao’s head is Keira Knightley.
“She’s very sophisticated,” the designer says. “She has that beautiful, sophisticated look, which is very elegant for me.”
Of course the list won’t stop there. As a designer with a multicultural background, Kao emphasizes the versatility of her label.
“A modern woman, to me, is not just one type of woman, but women with culture,” Kao says. “Aside from being worldly, diversity plays a factor, and so I wouldn’t just want to have one celebrity chosen to be the person to wear my gown, but many.”
Following Knightley on the list are Taiwanese actor Shu Qi, Brazilian Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima, and Iman, who is Kao’s favorite model.
“[T]hese are definitely women I would love to see in my gown, and they are all from different backgrounds and age groups,” Kao says. “Some of them may be married already, but there’s always the renewal of vows!”
Amidst economic gloom, where buyers for a luxury like bridal wear are cutting down expenses, Kao still stays optimistic and upbeat. To economize the wedding gown is her way of getting through the tough times.
“[I’m] rethinking about how I can make it more functional or practical, what brides need these days. In this recession, people are still getting married. Although their budgets are smaller, there’s still a way to work around it,” she says.
For her next collection, Kao has found a new muse — the Sahara Desert, the North African landscape comprising enigmatic sand dunes.
“I’m feeling the excitement right now because I’m seeing all the designs that I’m doing and I just can’t wait to get it out there … I was thinking of the twist of fabric and the way it’s very wavy,” Kao says. “How to play with fabric and twist it like the sand dunes.”
Not to discourage the enthusiastic designer, but twisting fabric to make it look like the forever-changing sand dunes? It sounds complicated.
“It could be,” the designer laughs and says. “We’ll find out.”
(Photo credit: MinnaK)
