LAHORE – Romana Abdullah and Harris Syed, have made kidswear chic and fun with their brainchild that goes by the name of ‘Hopscotch’. With clothes and accessories for boys and girls from 0-14 years being able to be dressed up by the much known/talked about brand.
We caught up with Romana and Harris for a lovely chat.
DP: Where the idea of launching a brand for children came from?
RA: Our idea for starting a quality kidswear brand in Pakistan began when we, as new parents, had a hard time finding stylish, well made, well priced clothes for our son. We realized we were not the only ones having that problem – it was a pretty common complaint. So we decided to address this problem and Hopscotch was born.
DP: What does it really take to launch a fashion brand?
HS: A lot of hard work, commitment and determination. Having the creative vision for the brand is crucial, but the hardest part is the execution and operations of it, especially if you are working on all parts of the value chain i.e, from designing to manufacturing to retailing, which we are.
DP: Can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration for you winter collection 2018?
HS: Our winter collection is inspired by Robin, our brand mascot, a bird that signifies passion, hope, and new beginnings. We take the kids through an adventurous RobinLand, where they do all the cheerful stuff (like berry picking and scavenger hunts), explore the surroundings, identify their interests and passions, and witness joyful new beginnings. Our collection reflects this spirit of adventure, fun and hope for children.
DP: It’s easier to design clothes from grownups, but when it comes to kids how do you decide on the appeal factor?
HS: We talk to kids, we think about their interests, what sort of things they like and what we can introduce that will challenge them, excite them and even make them learn. When we design clothes for kids, we try to create articles that will bring a sparkle in their eyes. We aspire to make clothes that the kids are excited to wear and that parents love and can afford.
DP: What’s your vision for the brand?
RA: Be a household name for every Pakistani parent.
DP: What is creative process like at hopscotch?
HS: It’s a structured and very involved, team-driven process. We (Directors) are very involved in the creative process and advise the design team through it. The process starts with a range plan and a moodboard. There is a lot of research on trends. And then there is an iterative design process to create a collection that fits local and international trends, kid’s interests and Hopscotch brand philosophy.
DP: Speaking of the recent kids fashion show how hard is to train/manage kids for ramp walk?
RA: The kids were awesome! We just had 2 practice ramp walk sessions before the fashion show and no kid even faltered or stalled on the final day. Super impressed by our group of kids.
DP: Anything you’d like to say to emerging designers?
HS: Having a creative vision is very important, but only a solid work ethic and hard work will make you successful and help you realize your vision.
