Laura from Kinga Csilla: A Conversation

1. Tell us about what went into the name, Kinga Csilla?

Csilla is a derivative of star in Hungarian - I guess it’s my alias of sorts. My dad’s side of the family is from Hungary and although you could say it’s the less dominant culture in our family home, I still really resonate with the folk traditions of my distant family. We almost always use Hungarian embroidery in our collections.

2. What made you want to start Kinga Csilla, and has the brand changed at all since it's beginnings?

Before I started Kinga I had been working as a designer for about a decade, directing and designing collections for other people, and unintentionally, I fell into the zone of youth fashion. I was working for lifestyle labels that we’re a little more fast paced than Kinga.

Then I had my baby girl Daphne and I guess with that came a stronger sense of responsibility. Some niggling whispers in the back of my mind became quite loud. Feelings about how fast fashion production might not be the most sustainable or ethical mode of making and selling clothes became much more prevalent.

I started Kinga with the intention of creating beautiful clothes slowly and kindly - it’s an evolution of sorts, as I’m learning how to design and produce more considerately as the brand grows.

In terms of how it’s changed, Kinga is still quite young but I can see the growth and change already - perhaps it’s more a way of pairing back. There are definitely some fabrications and silhouettes we love and our customers love, like linen and cotton, so we're focusing on designing with those fabrics more, honing our design aesthetic and culling what doesn’t feel truly Kinga.

3. Your aesthetic is a wonderful combination of feminine and wild, what inspires your designs? I love that! Feminine and wild.

I wish sometimes I was inspired by the same things, but for me the spark that sets of my creative switch is unpredictable. Sometimes I’m inspired by a book or a holiday or some amazing piece of vintage.

Vintage fashion does stand out to me - particularly pieces that show a labour of love or techniques of production or embellishment that are now not commonly used.

I love the pairing of feminine and tough. A little floral and leather or a ripped denim with a folk blouse will always appeal so the collections usually have that balance of, as you put it, feminine and wild.

4. What can customers expect from your upcoming Autumn collection in March?

More of our signature embroideries, folk blouses and dresses in linen and cotton. Some airy cotton muslin, and as we move deeper into winter some gorgeous stone washed knits.

5. The Seraphim Dress is my favourite dress from Kinga Csilla and had great reception on social media - what pieces or garments do you feel have really helped grow the Kinga Csilla brand?

I was so happy to send out each one of those dresses. The embroidery alone is just amazing. I met some of our embroidery artisans in India and now I have an even deeper appreciation for anything embroidered.

Some of our first cotton styles like the Horizon dress or the Dawn dress still generate requests.

We’re re cutting the Horizon again this season in super limited make and later this year we’ll be remaking the Dawn (a gorgeous fully embroidered white cotton dress).

Lots of our customers email us because they’ve received compliments from strangers, people in the street asking about their dress and its usually one of those embroidered pieces that they’ve been wearing. I think by word of mouth, rather than social media exposure those pieces have really helped to grow and define the brand. I like that, its a bit romantic.

New collection launching soon. Shop Kinga Csilla now.