Introducing designer Kristian Williams from BONITA who has produced a colourful collection of kaftans and separate pieces that you'll be obsessed with this summer.
Introducing designer Kristian Williams from BONITA who has produced a colourful collection of kaftans and separate pieces that you'll be obsessed with this summer.
Congratulations on your gorgeous Spring Summer ‘18 collection of stunning kaftans. Can you tell me about the inspiration behind the range?
KW: Thank you! Every bit of my inspiration is derived from personal and cultural histories, colour usage in different cultures, books, magazines, film, art and nature. With the high heat of summer looming, I turned to painterly bold blooms and leafy botanical prints for a taste of tropical island reprieve. The 2018 Bonita Spring Summer collection is further inspired by the recent design voyage to New Delhi, where roving fruit carts, gold and magenta motifs, fresh magnolias, ramshackle buildings and the rich kaleidoscope of market place treasures all served as the creative spark behind our vivid new designs. Every collection I create nods to so many different influences, themes and looks. I never follow trends, and every range is a mish mash of everything I love, and everything that is inspiring to me at the time I design.
The collection launches 1st September 2018 and will be available online and at select boutiques. How do you want women to feel when they slip into a bold and breezy BONITA design?
KW: I’m an artist, so when I paint and design a range, it is crucial to think about how I take our clients on a creative journey to cultures all over the world through the use of motifs, colour pattern and embellishment. I want the Bonita woman to be metaphorically transported into another life more exotic, vivid and thrilling! I also want every woman that wears Bonita to feel glamourous and beautiful in my designs, no matter their size, or age – that is the most important thing to me.
What big plans do you have coming up for BONITA?
KW: I am excited to announce that we are launching our first children’s label, Bonita Bambino in October this year! I really identified a gap in the children’s wear market, and wanted to create an amazing range for kids that is an extension of our adults clothing – bold, colourful and sparkly! People have been asking me for years if I will do children’s, and now the time has finally come! It’s an incredibly bright and fun collection that will give families so much joy – a lot of the pieces are occasional pieces that are to be kept special. We have even included little boy’s board shorts! We are also showing our latest women’s SS18 range at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival Brisbane at the end of August, and have also started designing Bonita homeware which I’d like to launch next year.
A Day In The Life Of Kristian Williams from BONITA
6am: Alarm off.
6:45am: Coffee coffee coffee!
7am: I’m eating breakfast and catching up on the news, then shower and get ready for the day!
8am: I’m checking my emails, and compiling yesterday’s orders from our website. Then I post something on our social media.
9am: I’m responding and following up to flagged emails, customer requests and checking all our social media platforms.
10am: WIP business meeting time with my business partner Stephanie, and our sales co-ordinator Lisa.
11am: Stephanie and I sit down and work through important deadlines, finances and upcoming plans for the brand.
12pm: Time for lunch on the go, and check in with our wholesale clients.
1pm: Quick photoshoot for our social media platforms.
2pm: Weekly conference call with our factory in India to discuss future designs, and shipment deadlines and progress.
3pm: Pick up my sketchbook and start nutting out future ideas and designs that have popped into my head during the day. (I set aside time each week to start painting designs)
4pm: Head to the post office to send off customer orders.
5pm: Communicate and liaise with our overseas stockists, and compile replenishment orders.
6pm: Post again on our social media channels.
7pm: Have a phone catch up with our graphic designer Beci to inform her of upcoming work that needs to be finalised with look books, EDM’s and website design.
8pm: Dinner time! (And a glass of wine)
9pm: In bed watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
10pm: Lights go out, and time to officially unwind.
To shop the BONITA collection visit bonitakaftans.com.
