After returning to the fashion industry with a 30-piece collection, aptly named The Founder, Karen Millen, OBE has been chosen as the newest face of the Power Women series.
In an exclusive interview, she discusses her journey, from starting a business at just 19 years old to designing a collection that speaks to the everlasting values of the brand.
CAN YOU TELL US THE STORY OF HOW YOU STARTED KAREN MILLEN?
Well I’ve always been interested in fashion from as young as I can remember. I was making clothes for my dolls and then as I was growing up I was quite small and clothing on the high street at that point was pretty dire. From then, I went on to make them myself and I started making shirts for friends. I soon met my partner-to-be, who also had the same passion as I did for it. We opened our first store in my hometown, and the rest is history.
HOW HAVE YOU STAYED MOTIVATED DURING CHALLENGING TIMES?
I think for us when we started, we were very young. I think when you’re young you’ve got nothing really to lose, so I look at that as an advantage setting up any business. You know, we were hungry and really passionate about what we were doing and time wasn’t really that important. We had all the time in the world.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PIECES FROM THE COLLABORATION?
It's all quite interchangeable. I love the leather pants - they look great with flats, but also heels. I've recreated the Mandarin dress that was a famous piece, completed with an embroidered detail, and with our tailoring being core, I've designed a blazer with a pop of pink. It's perfect for spring/summer.
Shop Karen's Favourite Pieces
WHAT DRIVES YOU?
For me what drives me is passion for doing something you love. Success I think is when you’ve achieved all of the goals you’ve set out to do and you’re happy with what you’ve achieved.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND WORK WITH KAREN MILLEN?
With a twenty-year absence from the fashion industry, I was hungry to dive back in and being back at Karen Millen was the obvious thing to do really. It feels so natural and almost effortless, as I guess I know it so well and the timing just felt right somehow.
