Australian designer channels the power of Zen
While contemplating the launch of his own label at a recent trip in Milan, Lou concocted his brand name - Zenzero - from a local restaurant menu.
"Zenzero means ginger in Italian," Lou said. "I've always loved fashion and travel, they are my absolute passion in life apart from food and chocolate. I think of fashion and travel when I am designing and my philosophy comes from looking at beautiful things."
For his debut winter 2007 collection, launched officially at trade fair Fashion Exposed, Lou created an extensive range of upmarket dresses and a smaller line of skirts and shrugs. Made from silk chiffons, printed georgettes and silk velvet mixed with wool jersey, the fabrications also include embroidered Japanese silks and metallic crushed taffeta. Targetting women aged between 17 to 38 years, Lou has used a muted neutral palette highlighted with sharp greys and silver.
Once an assistant designer for womenswear label Alannah Hill, Lou said his experience in the industry has given him solid grounding for the launch of Zenzero.
"I was there since Alannah launched her label, so I know the ins and outs of the fashion business. Working with Alannah allowed me to be extremely creative and I loved it [but] starting the Zenzero label was a very important to me."
Priced from $295 for silk slips to $495 for silk chiffon and imported French lace dresses, the first collection will be stocked at several small boutiques throughout Victoria.
Eventually looking to secure distribution throughout Australia, Lou also hopes to mould Zenzero into a broader lifestyle brand.
"I do see a future of opening Zenzero boutiques with a full fashion collection and accessories. It will have its own exclusive signature in the fashion world and to be exposed to the overseas fashion capitals. The biggest challenge right now is to work out who is my secret muse every time I design."