6 Minutes @ Fiona KOTUR Marin

Clutch is a woman savior when going for an evening cocktail party A good clutch can break the ice and opens up a good conversation. Chic and glam clutch designer Fiona KOTUR Marin knows how to catch your attention by designing a contemporary yet sexy party clutch than wow many Hollywood celebrities by carrying them on the red carpet. Currently residing in Hong Kong with her American Financier husband and four children, Fiona divides her time between Hong Kong and New York to continue developing this most wanted clutch business. mylifestylenews finds out more of her passion and spirit that she ventures in KOTUR for not just only a piece of accessories......

I am a native New Yorker and I was with Polo Ralph Lauren in New York as accessories designer.

When I was first introduced a limited edition of brocade clutches under my maiden name, KOTUR, in 2004 and inspired by the remarkable discovery of a trove of vintage brocades while travelling through Asia. The collection picked up by international retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman and Scoop in New York, Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong, and Browns in London.

I work with new concepts of vintage chic that blends modern technique and traditional craftsmanship. KOTUR is chic, fun, colorful and playful. I experiment and use a lot of different materials like metallic gold & silver, Swarovski crystals on clutch as well as treated exotic skins, and the popular Wallace day bag collection has further developed into a wider range of totes and shoulder bags. 

I find my inspiration from exotic lands with rich histories of textile and ornament and I embraced by the love of art and culture, KOTUR projects an overtone of chic retro glamour that slightly integrates with new exotic elements.

KOTUR SS2013 collection embarking on a more unusual garden tour, it opened the door to a more surreal natural world, finding beauty and surprise in new ways. It is savage garden, a Pop Garden, Cyber Garden, Secret Garden and Retro Garden with lots of floral, it is refreshing, fun, playful and full of curiosity. In fact you can call it <The Garden of Hell> too, it is just like another mid summer dream. 

In this collection, we work on new materials, and with bursts of shocking color. You’ll find classic shapes reworked and re-imagined. Snake skin, new colors with new materials are used in this collection; it is stimulating, happy, irresistible and artistically well crafted with sensibility.

There are classic Espey minaudiere in gold plate and smattered in confectionery looking flowers. We created sequin flower ‘bonnets’, covering minaudieres to look like jeweled, vintage swim caps. Neon treads over floral jacquards give an unexpected look that’s pretty and cool in equal bounds. 

The African printed fabrics and colored python lend a tribal take, or for the ultimate pop of color, neon sequined patchworks give plenty of bang for their buck.

The overall effect is supernatural, super pretty, a bit off-balance and perfect for a pop of color. It’s a season in which to find what you fancy where you least expect it.

My mother a painter and former designer for a Parisian couture house in the 1960’s, and my sister is in the publication field, with that influence, it does give more opportunities to open many other doors in the world of creative glamour.

When I design, I design style that last forever, it has to be individual with its own style. Initially, we didn't design for the purpose to suit the red carpet. We just want to design a chic and glam and a practical clutch for ladies to go for their evening cocktail parties by matching their dress.

When Renee Zellweger first carried our clutch on the red carpet, the brand was then gradually known by others. Thanks to the stylist who picked our clutch and the press who have been so kind to us by spreading the word of our brands.

We have a design team in New York and I am now gradually divert my work on business operation. I spend 80% of my time on the brand development and 20% on design and deciding on the materials we sourced and used on our collection.

KOTUR limited edition Year of Snake clutch

My favorite possession is the sentimental value that going on around me, family grown up memories are precious to me. A group photos that with goo memories will touch my heart. Other than that jewelry pieces that have special value and emotional content in it are also very sentimental to me. 

My ideal way of a living lifestyle is the adventure of life, to be able to share the good moments and experience are essential, sharing is everything.

mylifestylenews @ Fiona Kotur Marin