'Just do you': How Malaysian designer Bernard Chandran fashioned his success

Datuk Seir Bernard Chandran believes that everyone should remain true to their vision and aesthetic. Photo: Bernard Chandran

Datuk Seri Bernard Chandran is certainly a force to be reckoned with in fashion.

His experience as a designer spans over three long decades, and has brought him fame both in Malaysia and internationally.

Recently, Bernard put on two exhibitions in Kuala Lumpur to narrate his creative journey.

One focused on the influence he has brought to contemporary Malay fashion, and the other looked at the iconic Chinese dragon motif as something central to a lot of his designs.

Bernard is known to not limit himself when fashioning gorgeous clothes. His inspiration comes from varied sources and reflects Malaysia’s diverse culture.

His age of 56 years old is also no factor at all.

“People have asked me why I’m pushing myself so hard when it comes to my work. They say I’m nearing retirement age. Well, it’s because I enjoy what I’m doing,” Bernard says in an interview with StarTrends.

His designs often walk the line between the contemporary and traditional fashion. Photo: Bernard Chandran

He was first an accounting student in 1988, after which he enrolled in a local fashion school. He eventually made it to Paris to study design there.

Read more: Bernard Chandran on fatherhood and how he keeps it 'real' with his kids

The Kuala Lumpur-born designer, whose career kicked off in the early 1990s, is now dubbed as Malaysia’s “king of fashion”.

His clientele includes the rich and famous. Artistes like Estelle and Lady Gaga have worn his designs.

In 2018, he presented his creations to Kate Middleton, the then Duchess of Cambridge, at Buckingham Palace in London for the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception.

Throughout it all, Bernard remains very much true to himself. He is ever forthcoming with his thoughts and opinions.

For him, it is just a matter of focusing on what he loves doing. Everything else is just noise.

“Just do you,” Bernard quips. “You can’t please everyone.”

You’ve been doing what you do for over 30 years. What keeps you going and how do you stay so passionate about your craft?I think it’s a matter of surrounding yourself with things that make you happy.

My work space is filled with art and other beautiful items – they inspire me.

Also, surround yourself with positive people. Cut out the negative ones from your circle, and keep only those who will continuously drive you to achieve your dreams.

Always feed and nourish your creativity. It’s like when you’re hungry, don’t deny your body food.

You studied and lived in Paris before. What’s your view of the fashion scene in Malaysia in comparison to Europe?

We are getting better, but still far away from what Europe has to offer. Designers there just have “it”.

That said, we should not look left and right at what others are doing. Focus on what we can do. Like for me, I think people know what I do. I don’t change.

For now, I don’t see anyone here from the younger generation of designers who’s totally “mad” – meaning someone who truly believes, without any doubt at all and no matter what, in what they’re doing.

My advice is to not lose your aesthetic. Don’t alter your vision for anyone. Never change what you do just to get sponsors or financiers.

Would you say that the reason you have freedom to do whatever you want now is because you’ve already made it as a famous designer?

I think it’s more that I have know-how. I’ve struggled in the past, having to deal with criticisms and people calling me out.

What’s different now is that I know better in terms of how to deal with things.

When you reach a certain age, you will have confidence.

Why? Because you’d have dealt with similar problems before and know that you can move past them. There are always ways to find solutions.

The prolific Malaysian designer says that you should always surround yourself in life with things that make you happy. Photo: The Star/AZMAN GHANI

How do you think social media has changed fashion since you started out?

Social media helps a lot, but it also ruins a lot.

The good thing is that we can use it to educate. In postings, we can easily show the entire creative process or the craftsmanship that goes into a particular fashion piece.

At the same time, we also have people who are using fashion for quick social media content.

Once they purchase something and take a nice picture to post online, they won’t want to wear that garment anymore. I have clients like this.

So, things like a nice finishing to your clothes don’t matter anymore. You won’t hear now of anyone wanting to pass down a beautiful clothing item to the next generation.

Read more: Striking dress worn by Fan Bingbing in Melaka is a Bernard Chandran design

Your fashion journey spans decades, each with its own defining style. Between different generations, do you see a gap existing in what’s favoured?

I’m surrounded by my kids. They have many different styles, I would say. Nothing specific really, they just enjoy what they wear.

There are those from the younger generation who like old looks – say, from the 90s, but they’re updating it in their own way. Then there are others who like what K-pop stars are wearing.

For the older generation, I think we are more fixated on fashion decades and specific fits.

Younger people are comfortable being themselves. It’s not just about the latest trends. They can even appreciate vintage fashion, for example, mixing and matching whatever they can find in various ways to experiment.

What are your thoughts on updating traditional designs to fit contemporary tastes? This is something you have done a lot in your collections over the years.

The elements to traditional designs are simply amazing. There is such a rich thought process that goes into those garments.

I appreciate all of them, like Indian or Malay ones. I also really want to come up with another collection that celebrates Chinese traditional designs.

If you rework traditional designs carefully, the result will simply be amazing. But also, know when to pull the handbrake. Don’t overdo it.