Meet Carol Wong of Kayun

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Wong.

Carol, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a young child, I had many dreams and one of them was to be a fashion designer. I can’t remember the exact time or moment that triggered my imagination of that specific career goal. But! From then on I began to illustrate and design I just kept that goal in mind, the choices I made onward was to bring me a step closer to being able to call myself a designer. During one of my third year in high school, I found a competition that was to design a small collection and the prize was a sewing machine. Up to this point of schooling, the only sewing lessons I knew was of my home education class in sewing a beanie-bag frog and a raccoon pillow from junior high school.

The amazing thing was that I won the competition for the sewing machine! On this sewing machine I actually used it to make my prom dress (unfortunately when I look at it know the skills on there really was bad). Then comes my last year in high school and I found another competition that the prize was a One-Full-Year tuition to the private design college. For this collection, I think I had to design another mini-collection of 6 looks. This competition was open to international students as well, but I was lucky enough to win the full year prize. They told me the reason that set me apart from the other competitors was the fact that in my illustration, I was very detailed. So I graduated in June and immediately had to move to start college at the beginning of July.

Throughout the two years, my goal was set on being in the 3rd year program. This program allowed only ten students each year to join. I made it into the program as the things that set me apart from the other students was because I was organize in my thought process and my sewing skills had immensely improved. From there I was given a year and a mentor to create a collection of 12 full looks, although that was my goal, I was only able to create a total of 11 looks for the runway show. From that college, I graduated with an Associate Degree in Fashion as well as the Advance Fashion Degree. I then moved back home to Arizona to take a break; I was truly burnt out and needed to regain my thoughts of why fashion was for me. I eventually went back to school to try for marketing; unfortunately, that was not for me. I loved and missed designing, learning, and making things. I finally switched over to their new fashion program that they offered. My goal when I stepped into the school was to create something related to fashion. I wanted everyone to be as excited as I was; I saw the new program as an opportunity to test myself and the limits. During my final year for my senior capstone, I was able to put together the first ever fashion show at the school with lots of help. This project literally took four years to manifest. It started off as my ambition and goals and then there were three other students that were fully on deck from there it grew to over 300 students being involved.

For the fashion show, we had about 20 first year designers wearing their own design of white shirts and black bottoms. Then 20 second years created denim dresses by recycling old denim. The two main designers and two guest designers showcase about three looks each. I was the last of the show with eight looks. We initially plan for an audience attendance of 250 as the show date fell on Easter weekend. To our surprise, nearly 500 guests came to support the show! It was such an amazing night. All I could say was that it was better than I expected, but not as perfect as I had wanted it. Now moving to the present, I am not doing part time work as a fashion illustrator and working to establish my own brand. I hope that one day my brand will be one of quality and reputable as something that everyone will know. But like always one step at a time and hopefully I will succeed in my next goal to place me closer to becoming a fashion designer (one that I personally would acknowledge).

Has it been a smooth road?
There are struggles everyday, some more rougher than the others but I think as long as I can keep hold on my sanity and not lose myself then I will be fine. An example of a struggle is being confident enough to say that I am a designer (I am still working on that). To say that “My designs have value”. I struggle with people wanting to get something custom designed by me, but also trying to look for the cheap way out (it really makes me feel a bit undervalued). There are many other but I will say for myself, as a designer I have my own ideals of a perfect shell, My dreams are what brought me through this road and for that, I know that not everyone will like them because this is my story. I just hope that when I share my designs that you will take your one cent of the story and move on.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
Currently, I’m working to establish my branding; it has been a journey in finding the right people who I can trust. So far there is three of us on the team, Cindy Tran, Alexa Guy and myself.

I personally think that my design change based on my mood, emotions and what I take from my surrounding. I get inspired by words, people, and just the everything around me. I think the thing that will set me apart is that If I design something and I plan to sell it, then that is something I deemed worthy enough to be sold. I want my customers to find their styles and have a connection to my design. For them receive praises are the best compliments I could get as a designer. I sometimes feel like in a way I am selling my memory of my dreams. I can create a story, but it comes down to that one individual to find if that story means anything to them. I am proud that I have gotten this far even though there are many times that I almost gave up.

What are your plans for the future?
Big changes, I think reflection is a big part of it. Finding what I how my designs can define myself as a person but also how I might want it to translate to my customers. I will be planning to launch the brand something at the end of the year or the following year. By then my goal is to stay focus and keep moving. I hate being afraid but that is something I was condition to when making big moves. I hope that every year, the brand will receive love and find way to achieve goals that I set for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kayun.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayunofficial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KAYUNOfficial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/KayunOfficial

Image Credit:
June Hucko IG@junehucko, Mariah Moneda IG@mariahmoneda, ASU Photographers: Deanna Dent, FIDM Photographers

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