Housing the best of Asian couture and prêt a porter in her boutique in the heart of Hong Kong, Tania Mohan created Tabla, her signature store, long before Indo-centric fashion spilled into the glossy pages of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and the like. Often voted as Asia’s most stylish and certainly most photogenic, she spills the beans on taking chances and being at the right place at the right time.
Ethnic-chic could have been a passing trend like the Macarena or Fashion Café. You bravely opened up shop long before Indo-centric fashion really took off.
Tania Mohan: I set up Tabla purely by chance. I was at a crossroads in my life and out of the blue, I got an amazing offer to set up a shop in Princes Building. That was eight years ago and I'm so happy I was not at the neighbour's house when opportunity knocked. It's one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
You’re doing your own designs now. What’s the inspiration?
Tania Mohan: I started playing around a couple of years ago, tweaking ready-made garments and making slight changes to things. I am lucky that after years in the business, the factories I work with let me try my hand at designing pieces in tiny quantities - then I started to get international orders and then just kept on designing. Now I do a knit wear and resort line. I just signed with an agent in New York so let's see how the Fall/Winter 2008 collection sells.
Tell me a little about your background in design, did you study fashion?
Tania Mohan: I didn't study fashion, I studied law and got a Bachelor's and my Post Graduate certificate in law. I intended to be a barrister, but again, through chance and timing, I got a job as the fashion editor for a Hong Kong newspaper. I got to interview many international designers and visit and write about Coco Chanel's home in Paris, the house of Lanvin. I styled over 100 fashion shoots during that time for various Asian magazines. Last year I co-hosted a TV show on Discovery Travel and Living called Fashion Avenue with British supermodel Jodie Kidd.
There are these persistent rumours that you were a model too?
Tania Mohan: (With a breezy laugh) When I was younger I was a model-ish. I took part in Hong Kong Fashion Week where I did the runway for designers Pacino Wan, Flora Cheong Leen and William Ma. I was a fit model for German fashion house Mondi about 10 years ago. Gave me great insight into how buyers buy collections, how many pieces and ranges a collection normally carries. All that became useful information and knowledge that later helped me.
Who is your favourite style icon?
Tania Mohan: Kate Moss dresses fabulously. I love the way the late Carolyn Besset Kennedy dressed and also Rene Russo's wardrobe in the remake of the Thomas Crown Affair.
Who are your favourite Asian designers?
Tania Mohan: I love Indian designers Monisha Jaising and Tarun Tahiliani.
You’ve got a huge multicultural customer base. Indians, Pakistanis as well as Westerners, Hong Kong residents and even Japanese!
Tania Mohan: Yes I've been lucky in that respect, and I do have a great cross selection of clients including a very large local clientele. Every individual is different in their tastes and sometimes it is a real eye opener to see what one finds beautiful and another doesn't. I have many customers from Pakistan too - a good friend has been so helpful in introducing me to the right people, the most stylish people with a discerning eye. There are so many gorgeous women wearing my brand - I love it.
Image: Courtesy of photographer Ike
Hair & Makeup: Karen Yiu
Summer Issue
PRIVÉ ASIA 2008
Tania Mohan: Yes I've been lucky in that respect, and I do have a great cross selection of clients including a very large local clientele. Every individual is different in their tastes and sometimes it is a real eye opener to see what one finds beautiful and another doesn't. I have many customers from Pakistan too - a good friend has been so helpful in introducing me to the right people, the most stylish people with a discerning eye. There are so many gorgeous women wearing my brand - I love it.
Image: Courtesy of photographer Ike
Hair & Makeup: Karen Yiu
Summer Issue
PRIVÉ ASIA 2008
UPDATE: Well, Privé Asia died an ignoble death after two issues. Its ludicrous publisher and self-appointed editor-in-chief has also left town and is currently traumatising others... wherever the hell she is.
Was fun to interview Tania, who I've known since I was 22! Ageless wonder. Tabla has now crossed several milestones and is still going strong.
Dear Rama,
ReplyDeleteloved the magazine and really really liked the piece you did on me and tabla.
thanks and well done. xxx Tania
Got this lovely note from the lovely Tania post publication. bless.