[Un]Discovers: Candy and Caviar

I think this is love at first sight.

I still remember the day I discover Candy and Caviar: I am as usual looking at tweets on twitter and suddenly I come across this fashion brand's link. After I click on it, I know I am totally hooked on it. The cutting, the edginess are what I like about this brand. Looking at their F/W lookbook is refreshing. Today, I am happy to say I have done an online interview with Candy Lin, the designer for this brand and you can read it right here. Yes, it is exclusive and you will not read it in other places!

Hi Candy, at this moment, I am just so stoked to have this chance to ask you some questions. So, how did you become a fashion designer? How did you come up with this brand name?
I officially started candy&caviar in 2008, but I didn’t have a background in fashion and I knew it would be a problem. So for the first 8 months of candy&caviar, I spent my time in factories, with sample makers, and textile producers to understand first hand every single step of production.

candy&caviar is a little bit of who I am and what our brand represents – the casual chic man/woman. The candy side is definitely my lighthearted, sweet side (the casual look of candy&caviar) and the caviar is my sophisticated, chic side (the structured fit of candy&caviar).

Since I am a guy, I am very addicted to your menswear. It is like a drug to me. In your own words, how will you describe your brand? Are you planning to expand your business in the world market?
Candy&caviar is exactly where classic and unconventional meet. I do plan on expanding candy&caviar into the world market, and not only as a fashion label, but also as an international brand. I won’t be limiting myself to just clothes because I also have a strong interest and passion for other areas of the fine arts.

I am looking forward to see what you have for us in store with this brand other than fashion. Fall is approaching soon and you have just showcased your F/W collection online. What's the inspiration? What elements have set your collection apart from the other brands?
The theme was simplicity with a bit of madness. I was inspired by classic structures, like fitted blazers, but we continued to add our signature details to give the pieces that candy&caviar touch. The hood is one of our main signatures.

I love the hood on the fitted blazer! I really enjoy seeing this collection! I know that you have collaborated with Ashton Michael before, how was the experience like?
Collaborating with Ashton was a great learning experience. Ashton is an amazing designer who has been in the industry for a number of years, so I definitely learned a lot by working with him.

That's nice to hear. I know you are living in Beijing right now, are you planning to blend in some Chinese elements in the next collection? If so, what kind of things are we expecting to see?
I definitely design based on inspiration that I’m surrounded by at the moment and since I am living in Beijing, I have incorporated elements of the city’s architecture, atmosphere, and personality into the details of our new collection.

Now I am excited to see your next collection, maybe you can send me some sketches later on in the future! What do you think of the fashion industry in the world right now? Do you have any area in the industry you want to explore in the future?
I think there are definitely a lot of amazing designers who have emerged during the past few years – designers that will definitely go down in history. I’m always amazed by what fashion can do and say about different people and cities. I would love to explore leather goods and accessories. I love and collect purses, so I’d love to design a purse collection that compliments well with our clothing line.

Well I hope you will work on the men's bags too in the future so I can carry it around in the city. Last but not least, If you could collaborate with a non-fashion artist, who would you want to work with?
I would love to collaborate with Frank Gehry! I’m a huge fan of his work and I think his architecture is definitely inspiration on a whole other level.

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This part of the feature is usually my favorite because now I can know Candy more on a personal level. Now, let's read her picks.

Beijing or Chicago?
California

Dress or Pants?
Dresses at night, pants during the day.

Black Coffee or Latte?
Black Coffee

Circles or Squares?
Squares for clothes, but circles for everything else.

Dog or Cat?
Definitely Dogs

Purple or Pink?
Black

Water Color or Color Pencils?
Color Pencils because I’m a perfectionist. Water color leaves room for error and isn’t as precise and colored pencils.

Mac or PC?
Mac!

Skittles or M&M's?
Skittles, but only the green ones

Day or Night?
Night

This is it. This is the complete interview I have with Candy Lin and I am still in a very hyper mode while writing this up. I am wishing her and her brand all the best in the future and can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the S/S season. If you want more information about this brand. please visit Candy and Caviar official website. All photos are courtesy of Candy and Caviar.