I have to say I was extremely nervous about interviewing him, I hate speaking to people over the phone, somehow it's even worse than having to meet face to face (I alsways get super paranoid about the sound of my own voice), but luckily Tze Goh was quite lovely and didn't seem to find me too annoying.
Keep reading below for the full profile that I created about him - and feel free to let me know what you think.
Juxtaposing minimal lines with complex design techniques, up and coming designer Tze Goh demonstrates how inspiration and success can appear in many forms.
With his final bow consisting of nothing more than a humble head nod, Tze Goh proves that sheer talent and creative ingénue is all that is required to create a lasting impression.
As the eponymous designer witnessed the final model disappear behind a stark white backdrop, he felt a “sense of all consuming pride”. The end of his premiere showcase at London Fashion Week was the culmination of six months tireless work, and a glittering education that led to him being named as one of Vauxhall Fashion Scout’s ‘Ones to Watch’.
A Singapore native, Tze Goh has become something of a fashion butterfly. He studied in both Paris and New York, before heading to London, where he would eventually graduate from the prestigious Central St Martins School of design. The competitive fashion hothouse challenged Goh to live up to the standards of their impressive alumni, a challenge in which he succeeded, as his 2010 graduate collection garnered extensive praise. In pristine white, the clothes focused extensively on the ways in which a simple T-shirt could be developed into outerwear; with angular armholes and twisted collars the statuesque series of nine looks displayed a likeness to seminal designers Martin Margiela and Jil Sander. “When I start a collection it is on nothing more than a feeling”, says the designer in a heavy mandarin accent. “It’s only during the designing phase that a concept is actually created.”
In many ways, Goh’s designs are a perfect reflection of the man himself. Understated yet ingenious, austere yet modern, “(my clothes) are pure, minimal and statuesque”, he states coolly, blurring the lines between the man and his creations even further. Two seasons after his debut, Goh continues to stick to his aforementioned ethos. Accompanied by a haunting string instrumental, model after model strode, with an air of quiet confidence down the runway of his autumn/winter 11 collection. All intricate pleating and carefully folded curves, the garments in lagoon blue, and asphalt grey were executed with technical perfection. “I was inspired by geometric Japanese designs, and the clean lines of automobile interiors...especially German made automobiles.” Says Goh, explaining the reason behind the fastidious amount of workmanship in a single sentence.
Once his education was complete, Goh decided to stay in London insisting, “it is the right place to develop my label…London is a combination of old and new, with an eye constantly to the future”. “I do miss the weather back home though”, Goh adds hurriedly, his pitch audibly changing for the first time. “It’s so cold here.”
The weather here may be cool, but his reception on unveiling his own label, has been anything but. Snapped up by concept boutique LN-CC (Late Night Chameleon Café), owner and former Harrods buyer John Skelton, Goh’s designs can be found nestled between those of Rick Owens, and Martin Margiela, in the new East London store, that prides itself on promoting ‘forward thinking’ brands.
“It is important to continually push the boundaries of convention when designing; it’s the best way to keep challenging yourself,” says Goh on his future plans. “Although I am currently only focusing on womenswear, anything is possible in the future.” Indeed, maybe next season his final bow will captivate his audience more than his exquisite designs. Just maybe.
