Answers
Creativity
Where do you get your inspiration from for constantly creating new collections?
Veronika Swienty: The most important inspiration is maintaining contact with people and reflecting on what is aesthetically pleasing and appropriate for a job. I am inspired by my curiosity for items of clothing which are currently popular combined with my knowledge of cuts and materials as well as flicking through lots of books with old photos of people at work, at the theatre and in society.
By visiting exhibitions or travelling, I combine what I see with my own thoughts about design projects and this leads to surprising ideas and new interpretations.
How do you recognise trends within fashion?
Veronika Swienty: There are lots of great new clothing styles but a real trend will last longer than a month and will somehow be used in all areas of the fashion-conscious community and also become part of an individual’s personal style.
How did you become a corporatewear designer?
Veronika Swienty: I studied fashion design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Even during my studies, I helped create costumes for films and theatre. And then, when a request for historic uniforms for a hotel was brought to me by a costume designer, my interest was sparked.
How do you get to know your clients' brands?
Daniel Kahn: After an extensive briefing, we study the company’s corporate identity, take a look at their website and then also find inspiration on site.
Happiness
Can good design make you happy?
Veronika Swienty: Yes. We consciously surround ourselves with beautiful things and prefer to wear clothes we like rather than throwing on any old thing. Attention to detail turns every day into a new joy.
What makes a uniform wearer happy?
Daniel Kahn: The uniform should fit them well and be practical. If they also look great, then every wearer is happy.Despite the fact that we design “uniforms”, each wearer should be catered for as much as possible.
Veronika Swienty: The design and selection of items of clothing should correspond with the wearer’s job role and the climate at their place of work. Even if only small, intelligent details that are incorporated into the uniform spark joy, the wearer will be pleased by it every day.
Privat
What would be your dream project?
Veronika Swienty: A large, innovative hotel in one of the big cities.
Daniel Kahn: A large airline. Swiss deserve a new uniform… don’t you think?
Who are your role models?
Veronika Swienty: Milena Canonero, Edith Head, Christian Dior & Maria Grazia Chiuri, Mme Vionnet, Virgil Abloh
What qualities in your suppliers are most important to you?
Veronika Swienty: Honesty and reliability
Daniel Kahn: Exactly that – as well as flexibility and subject expertise
Projects and logistics
How large does a project have to be for KahnSwienty to take it on?
Daniel Kahn & Veronika Swienty: No team is too small or too large for our ideas. We will find the best solution for all quantities.
Are there minimum order quantities?
Daniel Kahn: When we produce custom-made items of clothing (custom design), a minimum order quantity of 25 pieces is necessary. There are no minimum quantities for catalogue collections. It should be noted, however, that there are bulk prices for embroidery and printing. The smaller the quantity, the more the embroidery or printing will cost.
Can I have my own clothing line even on a small budget?
Veronika Swienty: Often, the individuality of a look is created through the combination and the colours as well as matching accessories. We can create this even with small budgets. We call this customised composition.
What should you particularly keep in mind with a corporatewear project?
Veronika Swienty: Firstly, you need to be clear about the requirements of the new clothing. From there, I would find out what the client personally likes and what they definitely don’t want.
Daniel Kahn: For a project to be a success, it is also important that all decision makers are on board and are aware of the requirements, quantities and schedules from the beginning.
How much time does a corporatewear project typically need?
Daniel Kahn: There are no typical corporatewear projects. Every project is different and it is therefore important to draw up the right schedule together with our clients.
Veronika Swienty: It could go quickly or more time could be needed. Our shortest project with finished, customised items took just three weeks. The client quickly decided what they wanted and we were able to act swiftly. For other projects, we have firstly drafted several design variations, produced different prototypes and only then started the manufacturing process. A single project like this can easily and happily last 18 months.
Sustainability
What do you understand by the term sustainable corporatewear?
Daniel Kahn: A corporatewear project is sustainable for us if it doesn’t have to be rolled out again almost immediately, if our clients are satisfied with it for a long time, and if the concept can be continuously developed further.
Which materials do you use and what do you keep in mind here?
Daniel Kahn: We exclusively use certified materials from Europe from suppliers we know.
Veronika Swienty: We monitor the development of environmentally friendly material manufacturing and new material compositions very closely. By working in close contact with our suppliers, we have access to the latest developments and therefore manufacture our items of clothing functionally and sustainably.
Where do you manufacture your corporatewear collections?
Veronika Swienty: We manufacture all items of clothing and accessories in Europe. We appreciate direct contact with production plants and studios which have high levels of craftsmanship and expertise, short delivery routes and consistent production quality.
