From Fashion Q and A
http://www.fashionqanda.com/July_Issue08/DesignerQA_EricKim.html
And as founder and President of Los Angeles based Monarchy Collection,
Eric Kim is calling the shots and rightfully so. Kim’s hard work and
creative genius has allowed him to take a design idea and turn it into a
multi-million dollar collection tailor made for the eclectic man and woman
seeking premium apparel. Monarchy has created a distinct look that has
a touch of the London UK punk scene mixed with a rebellious spirit
generating an end result that is totally glam.
Surrounded by a team he refers to as family, the Monarchy Collection is
emerging as a top American lifestyle brand and a front runner in high-
fashion denim, trendsetting graphic tees, fine jewelry, watches,
accessories and much more! Kim’s Fall 2008 Collection shown during
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in March was a clear
indication that this line offers a wide range of clothing that is versatile,
young and on the cutting edge of fashion. Hollywood A-lists such as
Tommy Lee, Rob Lowe, Jon Bon Jovi, Nick Lachey, Ashton Kutcher, Laura
Prepon, Jack and Kelly Osbourne, Tori Spelling, Jamie Kennedy, Good
Charlotte and Adrien Grenier are mad for Monarchy and they are just a few
named celebrities spotted in the collections designs.
With such a high demand, Monarchy is currently sold in retail stores
nationwide and online. When asked about plans to open a flagship store
Kim affirmed, “We are opening our first Flagship store hopefully early next
year. We are going to open in Los Angeles first, then hopefully New York
City. I’m really excited about it as I can design and merchandise the store
completely in the vision of Monarchy.”
Clearly Kim is a man with a vision, driving down the road of success.
FashionQandA.com talked candidly with the designer about his creative
muse, future plans and staying grounded.
FQA: What’s the meaning behind the Monarchy Collection?
What stage in your career were you when you got the
idea for the line?
ERIC: Honestly, I just felt that Monarchy Collection was a
cool name. I had archived a ton of names that I thought
would be great for fashion brands, and as I wanted to create
a line that had a European vibe with the Union Jack being
the brand’s symbol, Monarchy made sense. At the time of
Monarchy’s inception, I was President of Interstate which
had a huge retail division, private label, home division,
100,000 square foot warehouse, etc. I know that if I really
wanted to venture out on my own and create a fashion
brand, the time to do it was then, as I was already beginning
to be overwhelmed by responsibility and I probably would
have gotten locked into the situation I was in. I had made
some money, met my partner who was willing to invest, so it
was purely the right time for me.
FQA: Before realizing that you had
the potential to create and launch
a multi-million dollar brand, what
excited you about fashion and
fashion design?
ERIC: Having the ability to be
creative and have complete control
of the vision of a company excited
me. The freedom to design what I
wanted, and what I felt the market
place needed really turned me on.
FQA: Where does your passion to be a designer and
entrepreneur stem from?
ERIC: I was really creative at a very young age. I remember
hording through my parent’s junk drawers, finding random
objects and gluing them together to create abstract art. I
think that you are either born creative or you are taught by
your environment and upbringing. I feel I was born with it.
Regarding being an entrepreneur, I think that stemmed
from my hunger and drive for success. My family struggled
when I was young, and I envied my friends with the big
houses and sleek lifestyles. I knew I wanted success, and
in order to achieve my goals, I’d have to work my ass off. So
I did, my whole life.
FQA: As a boss, how would the Monarchy family describe you? What are some of the perks for
working with you?
ERIC: It’s funny that you mentioned “family” as we truly are. The majority of my employees are great
friends of mine who I got to hire as my company expanded. I feel that I am only as good as my team,
and I treat my employees as team members, plain and simple. I think my crew would compare me to a
Tony Robbins, as I am a motivator as opposed to a dictator. We have a ton of perks here, but I think the
most apparent is that we have all the luxuries of a corporate environment without working in a corporate
environment. I personally could not stand coming to work every day in a suit, so why should I subject my
people to that. I think that that type of environment stifles creativity, and creativity is everything we are
about. We give all our people heath care, paid vacations, summer half day Friday’s, fully paid maternity
leave, and most importantly, job security. I must say, it is a really cool place to work.
FQA: How has your life changed since the
$12 million dollar purchase of Monarchy
by Chicago-based Hartmarx Corp.?
ERIC: I pay a lot more taxes.
FQA: With so much success so soon, how
do you stay grounded and focused?
ERIC: I just don’t let it all go to my head. I
am clear that I am very lucky. I had that
right idea and the right product for the right
time. The premium clothing industry is
really hard especially in this current
economy, and I feel so grateful that I have
had the success I have had with Monarchy.
FQA: Monarchy fashions definitely appear
to have a UK/rockin’ roll influence. What
do you feel are the most edgy aspects or
pieces of your Fall collection?
ERIC: Our outerwear and our denim. As we
are now a full lifestyle brand with fine
jewelry, watches, and accessories on top
of the clothing, we invested a large portion
of our Fall/Holiday ’08 collection in
incredible jackets, trenches, coats, vests
and blazers as well as expanding our
denim techniques. I don’t know if I would
call it edgy or risky as the core of our
business has always been primarily t-
shirts, thermals and hoodies. We are
really stepping out of the box to put into
fruition my goal of becoming America’s
Diesel.
FQA: If you had to pick 3 musicians that embodied
the Monarchy spirit, which artists or bands would
you choose and why? What influence does music
have on your designs, if any?
ERIC: Musicians would be Cold Play, The Killers and
The Clash. Music is incredibly influential in our
designs. Our Art Director blares music all day in the
design room. If a particular designer does not like the
daily selection, he wears headphones blaring his own
choice of music. I think that music is the most
inspirational art form we have as it creates mood, and
whatever mood the designers are feeling is reflected
in the graphics that they create.
FQA: Where do you like to go when you want to
escape the grind of Los Angeles?
ERIC: I go to the beach. I love the ocean. It is my
favorite place to chill. I went to Hawaii four times
last year, St. Tropez, Nice, Cabo San Lucas.
Anytime I travel, there is an ocean involved.
FQA: With your designs being sold in retail stores
nationwide and online, do have plans to open up a
Monarchy Collection flagship store? What city
would you chose as the Monarchy fashion Mecca?
ERIC: We are opening our first Flagship store
hopefully early next year. We are going to open in
LA first, then hopefully NYC. I’m really excited about
it as I can design and merchandise the store
completely in the vision of Monarchy. I think that
London would be my fashion Mecca.
FQA: What person, place or thing would you say is
the Monarchy creative muse?
ERIC: Person would be Vivian Westwood. She is
just about the coolest and most innovative person
on the planet to me. Place would be London, and
thing would be film.
FQA: What are your future plans for Monarchy?
ERIC: My mission is to be an American staple
brand. Diesel has been around since the 70’s, and
I would love for Monarchy to have that kind of
longitivity I feel that there was a need in America for
an answer to G-Star, Energie and Diesel, and my
goal with Monarchy is to become that.
www.monarchycollection.com
