Edited by Jess Vuong on
We got the pleasure of speaking with Caroline Flach of Kcoline. We learned about how one moment changed her life, her design concepts, custom fitting, and process.
FI: How did you decide to come to New York over staying in France to pursue a career in Fashion?
CK: I came to NY because I met a very nice man ( my current husband, Andrew) in the south of France. I decided to come check out the city and instantly I got amazed by people’s outfits, just people on the streets dressing freely, you don’t see that in France, unfortunately. It really was a shock for me but I didn’t decide to do fashion immediately, it incubated in me for a long while… I started first to dress a little more crazy, then more and more. Meanwhile, I happened to have a close friend who was also a very good designer who hired me for a couple of jobs. She really developed my sense of fashion, from crazy to feminine, and creative. “De fil en aiguille” I started to make my own creations, my own patterns, I wanted to do a ton of things but not really designing, I thought I couldn’t.
Then a friend told me about etsy… and it was EXACTLY what I needed! I gave it a try and after a while, in something like 4 months, it started to work. I have been living happily ever after, I sell everything I make, customers are really happy, I get a lot of friendly supporting messages and feedback. I had to adapt myself to the internet and learn a lot, but now, things are smoother.
FI: What is your process in creating a piece?
CK: I like working with my hands, I like independence, I like handmade, home-cooking, small, unique, I try to be responsible for what I do, I am not a control freak but I like good results.
FI: How did you decide on producing one of a kind pieces rather than mass-marketing them
CK: I am actually looking right now to get some of my pieces made: anyone interested?!!!
FI:It’s amazing that you do custom made orders, how did you decide on that?
CK: Custom orders are great because I like to give form to people’s wishes, they are just more work and a lot of interaction with the customer about fabric, style, and details. It is funny too because they have to take their own measurements and sometimes they are all off, so I tell them. Since it is over the internet you really have to make sure that they will be happy with the result.
FI: Both your apparel and accessories are beautiful, do you prefer to make one over the other?
CK: I don’t have any preferences doing accessories versus clothing, I like to make furnitures and objects too. Anything that I can get my hands on.
FI: As a designer, what do you want your line to represent?
CK: Well, tough question. I want my line to represent who I am. I am only trying to show off the best of me though.
