An Interview with Kamola Malikova of Kamola

Kamola Spring Summer 2011

Kamola Spring Summer 2011

Kamola Spring Summer 2011

Kamola is an up and coming womenswear designer and she has recently been featured as 'One to Watch' in Tatler Russia. Originating from Uzbekistan, Kamola studied media and communications at London College of Fashion, and then achieved a Masters degree from the Istituto Marangoni in Milan. Kamola is currently producing her 3rd collection of evening wear for Autumn Winter 2011. Today I visited the designer in her Kensington studio to discuss the story behind her collections and the Kamola brand; her fashion memories and aspirations for the future; and her opinion of fashion bloggers and modern celebrity. 

What has been the highlight/biggest challenge of your career so far?

Kamola: I think the highlight was when I was mentioned on a radio station called Radio Free Europe/Radiio Liberty and the interview was then broadcast in Uzbekistan.  For me this was a very important moment as I came to Europe at the age of 16. They discovered me and decided to interview me, and for me this was invaluable, because it goes back to my roots, and where I come from. Interestingly this meant more to me than being featured in Tatler ... [Tatler] is fantastic and very glamorous and helped me a lot; however it felt good to gain recognition from my own nation.

As for the challenge, there were a lot of challenges! One challenge was feeling like I was not making progress, but then you turn a corner, for example you read a report, or you get an order, or a blogger writes about you and it gives you the incentive to keep on going. Then there were of course other challenges such as with manufacturing, and sending the collections abroad where you can't oversee the production.  I remember one of the manufacturers trying to take advantage of me; it was a Turkish manufacturer who almost blackmailed me by keeping my collection ransom until I paid them an additional sum which was not even part of the original agreement. I almost considered not going ahead with the collection, but I was happy that I did because of the fantastic response I received from it. 

What is your first fashion memory?

Kamola:  My first fashion memory is seeing a red fedora in a shop window. I was a little girl; I could barely speak. I was with my mother, walking, I don't even remember where I was ... but I pointed at the hat and she bought it and I thought how elegant she looked wearing that red fedora.

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