Celebrated British designer Henry Holland, with his trademark quirky quiff, was a guest of honour at the recent launch of the new Debenhams Store in Gurney Paragon. Debenhams will be familiar to anyone who’s been to London, as it’s one of the biggest and oldest stores in Regent Street. The British roots of Debenhams were very apparent in the Mini parked outside the shopping Mall – it was painted with design of the Union Jack. The opening of Debenhams in Gurney Paragon marks a whole new chapter in Penang fashion as the store is planned as a flagship for the Northern region.

Henry’s brought a playful twist to his new collection, H! By Henry Holland and it translates well to Penang’s edgy eclecticism. He’s known for his offbeat designs, punk checks, acidic colours, and fun imagery such as cheeky foxes and sophisticated teddy bears. “My mother doesn’t like the skulls that are everywhere at the moment, so I made teddy bears and sheep motifs on some sweaters and dresses,” he says. “I design for my generation and I like to be irreverent and have a sense of humour.” He is all for the bold look, the street style which people pick and choose pieces that express their personality.

He loves to use clothes as way of telling people how he’s feeling. One day he might wear head-to-toe neon colours and signal a bright, brash, loud mood, another he might like to dress totally in black and avoid attention. “I think fashion is a personal thing and it should be a form of expression and a way to experiment. The rules are, there are no rules,” he says.

Interestingly he draws a lot of his inspiration from fi lms, such as “The Matrix”, “The Fifth Element”, and Baz Luhrmann’s contemporary “Romeo and Juliet”, set in a psychedelic Venice Beach. He often starts the creative process by imagining a character, and what they would do and say and feel and, of course, wear. He feels lucky that he works with good friends and that work and life blend almost seamlessly for him. He’s isn’t trained as a designer, he was originally a journalist but he loves to create and he feels he has a lot to achieve with his brand. As well clothes, he has designed bags and other accessories.

Although Henry Holland primarily designs for his generation, almost anyone of any age group can take one of his pieces and use it as part of an outfit. Debenhams isn’t just for the Gen Z crowd. There is “Principles” by Ben de Lisi, “Butterfly” by Matthew Williamson as well as collections by Julien Macdonald, John Rocha, and Jasper Conran. There are great selections of swimwear and lingerie, which can often be hard to find in Penang in larger sizes. And within its 18,500 square feet of space there’s a man’s section, too.

Source: Penang International December 2013/January 2014

Read more:

• 3 Great Reasons to Buy Groceries Online
• Where Can I Find Tribal Art in KL?
• Four Places For Bargain Shopping in KL

What are your thoughts on this article? Let us know by commenting below.No registration needed.