heidi klein swimwear | Q&A
Penny Klein and Heidi Gosman are the design powerhouse behind British swimwear brand heidi klein. Launched in 2002, heidi klein is the go-to destination for your perfect holiday wardrobe. They mix essences of the French Riviera with beach hut, bare foot chic of Bali. Amazing, gorgeous and highly covetable one pieces, bikinis and all those little extras that make your capsule vacation wardrobe complete.
With the launch of their 2014 High Summer Collection, featuring their new “My Body” range of swimwear, we were lucky enough to be able to ask designer and co-founder Heidi Gosman a few questions to find out more about this amazing British brand.
Q. What encouraged you to get into fashion and predominately swimwear and what was your route to it?
A. Penny Klein and I were out shopping for swimwear out of season when we noticed that most department stores were not stocking much swimwear during the winter months. We saw this gap and came up with the one-stop beachwear shop concept. We opened our first store in Westbourne Grove, London, in 2002. The best part of running our own business is seeing our styles come to life and hearing the positive feedback from customers. Their inspiration feeds the momentum to continue designing perfect fitting swimwear in fresh and elegant prints.
Q. What is a typical working day for you?
A. There is no typical day, that’s what makes my job so much fun. I’m either visiting a factory, in the showroom for meetings, at a press event or in the studio. My days are constantly changing.
Q. Where are you based, how much of an inspiration is your city and what are your favourite cities around the world?
A. Our office is based in London as well as our two boutiques and so inspiration for each season comes from customers who tell us what works for them, and what doesn’t. We learn, listen and create according to this crucial feedback. For design and print, I usually get inspiration not from cities, but from various beach resorts about the world. My favourites have to be Portofino and St Tropez.
Q. Have you seen the fashion industry change in the last few years, have you had to adapt?
A. The fashion industry is an ever changing area yet we strive to maintain our collections with best-selling classic and nautical prints but with a fresh design twist each season. Our brand is not chained to the latest fashion trends, instead we grow organically according to customer feedback and demand.
Q. What is next for you? What are you goals for 2014/15?
A. Heidi Klein Girls is set to launch later this year. This is a super sweet line for little girl’s ages 2 to 10 years old. We are also expanding our wholesale distribution to the US and beyond.
Q. If you didn’t do the job you do now- what would be your dream job and where?
A. I always wanted to be an interior designer. I worked in market research for many years before launching our first boutique – that was the Plan B career.
Heidi Gosman on a shoot in Jamaica
You can stock up at the two iconic boutiques located in London’s Chelsea and Westbourne Grove. A great pop up store also opened at 29 Floral Street in London’s Covent Garden on 17th June and will run throughout the summer months. Offering the same effortlessly chic swimwear selection as it’s other stores.
In addition to heidi klein’s own collection there are also fabulous brands such as Eres, Missoni, Tom Ford stocked as well as Vix, Castañer, Vilebrequin for men and boys and St. Barts sun and skincare products.
Plus readers who tag a picture of themselves wearing a heidi klein piece on instagram @heidikleinswim could win a gorgeous heidi klein bikini of their choice!
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