A conversation with Fashion Designer Hanhny; her Winter Garden Collection, design and more!

GITANA STYLING (GSG): I love the look and feel of your new collection Winter Garden, when you say “The fruits we eat. The air we breathe. Winter Garden,” tells us in your own words what this means.

HANHNY (H): I’m amazed how some people can adapt and survive in the most remote/isolated places in the world. Mongolia seems like one of them with its’ severe winter, but yet, when I pictured it in my mind, it all seemed so peaceful at the same time. So I created my own remote place, Winter Garden. I saw myself picking an apple from the tree when I was hungry, resting my head on the great open plain, staring at the sky and simply just breathing it all in. Winter Garden is a place where I temporary escape to. Where everything is simple & peaceful.

Hanhny – Crowea Black – Picture by Hanhny.com

GSG: Is there a story of how Mongolia became the place of inspiration for Winter Garden?

H: It started out as a question I had with my husband, Maarten over a casual conversation, “if there’s one place you want to travel to right now, where would it be?” And my answer was Mongolia. I know nothing about it, but the pictures I came across with allowed my imagination to create my own story about this foreign place, which lead me to creating this new collection, Winter Garden.

GSG: The new collection combines nature, imagination, strength and an air of sophisticated simplicity in each piece. Which are your favorites?

H: My friends asked me the same question and it was hard to choose because I wear all of them! Um..If I had to narrow it down to my top three:

Crowea – I love how busy the lines of the artwork are but yet, it is able to sit so casually on the body. And I really like the silhouette/fit of the top.Jelena – This has been my best seller so far: on our website, Amsterdam, Belgium and San Francisco… Places where I’ve presented the line. Even a dude at a festival in Amsterdam asked if there was his size!

Peony – When I designed the artwork for this dress, I imagined it like it was a tattoo on skin (same idea for Mahonia tee). I wanted the detail to show on the front of the dress and continued down to the sleeve. Consequently, I had a customer with full sleeve tats bought this dress last weekend and it looked so beautiful on her. It blended right in!

Hanhny – Peony – Picture by Hanhny.com

GSG: Your designs always put a lot of emphasis on details. Where can we appreciate this in Winter Garden?

H: Every print you see is all hand sketched and silkscreen hand printed. Check out Jelena Sweater for example. Even with it being an all over print, every floral was thoughtfully placed. And not so obvious details are yet to be discovered. Just by looking at it, you wouldn’t have guessed that there’s a flap on the back and delicate lace trimmed the back neck seam.

GSG: All artwork on Hanhny’s Collections are hand-sketched, so when we purchase one of your pieces we are basically wearing art wherever we go, right?

H: Yes, it’s what makes Hanhny stands out from the rest. I haven’t seen another label where the designer also creates her own artwork. The artwork allows the wearer to connect and create her own story.

Hanhny – Snowdrops – Picture by Hanhny.com

GSG: This is your second Hanhny collection. How do you feel about that?

H: I smile every time I stare at them.

GSG: How has the label evolved from one collection to the next?

H: Hanhny started out as just graphic tops and then I added sweaters and dresses on the 2nd collection. As for next year, I’m planning to add bottoms as well. I’m hoping to be able to create more mix and match as we evolve.

GSG: Where can we purchase the new collection Winter Garden?

H: On our website: www.hanhny.com

In store:

Allstar Boutique

9 Iperou Street (behind Mango Anexartesias St.)

3040 Limassol, CyprusLot Antwerp

Kammenstraat 40

2000 Antwerp, Belgium

GSG: Where can people keep in touch with you?

H: Via email at info@hanhny.com

In social media:

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