Prepare to become instantly obsessed with uber-cool Dallas-based label, Koch. You may have spotted their luxe yet laid-back pieces on racks at Cabana, and with all the attention the line is garnering lately, you'll be seeing a lot more of their unique, gypset-inspired looks in haute stores like Fred Segal. We caught up with Koch's designer Nicole Musselman and her right-hand girl, Holly Jonsson, recently to find out about their newly opened studio in Oak Cliff and what we can expect from the collection this Fall.
The line has such an interesting aesthetic; what are you most inspired by when you design? "I really find a lot of inspiration in art and artists, in general, and for me, just being around creative people who work in different mediums than I do is a major influence. I adore the Dallas Contemporary, and actually, their recent artist, James Gilbert, is collaborating on a video with us for our shoot for the Holiday 2012 collection. And, maybe even more important than art, is what I experience when I travel. Diving into a totally different, beautiful culture always fires up my creative spirit."
You've been abroad quite a bit lately! What have your recent travels resulted in for Koch? "Well, we just returned from shooting some of our Holiday 2012 looks in Harbour Island; so, it was awesome to see the collection captured so beautifully. But, probably, my trip to India has been the most influential for me this year! Being in Udaipur was incredible, and most of the prints for Fall came from my experiences there. The movie Octopussy was filmed there, and so many of the images in that film are captured in the collection; that's why you see the cool daggers and guns in the prints for fall, and the octopus prints too, of course!"
How do you create the signature prints that are the backbone of Koch? "When we first started, I used to make all the giant screens for printing myself! Now, I contribute more from a graphic art perspective, and we have an awesome team that turns the ideas into the pretty printed silks that we use in the collections"
What's next for Koch this year? "Well, we're definitely creating more accessories, which I truly love. So, we're expanding that part of the line, and we may do a party of some sort this Fall to celebrate the new space. I'm not sure yet!"
Any particular favorites from the Fall 2012 collection? "Yes, definitely! I really gravitate toward the dagger prints we did, and I like the long 'Anna' dress. I'm also sure I'll wear the 'Lewis' sweater and our long cardis constantly too."
You can shop Koch online via their website or, locally, at Cabana, 4711 West Lovers Lane; Koch's Fall collection will arrive in store during August. Want to connect with Koch in their new West Davis location in Oak Cliff? Contact them through ShopKoch.com to make an appointment.
