Manshuk Kuanisheva, designer behind Malli brand, is raising a bar for young Kazakhstan fashion industry. Creating elegant, refined pieces of jewelry, Manshuk began her career designing for herself and her friends. Now, sold in many stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue Almaty, she started her own fashion line, which quickly became recognised by many fashionistas worldwide. |
with Malli |
MORE is LOVE: Tell us your story… When and how did your journey in the industry begin? Malli: My career started in 2012, I was inspired by Loree Rodkin and, very popular at that time, Bochic. This is when I begun creating my first jewelry pieces. MORE is LOVE: Describe your personal style and how it influences your designs… Malli: What I love and what I wear influences my work. I create something that I would want to wear. I love handmade things, embroidery, unconventional mixes of prints and finishes. Sometimes I think I have 2 women living inside: one loves all things bright and ethnic prints, other one – minimalism, blacks and simplicity. I live combining these two completely different worlds in the way I dress and create. In jewelry making I can also draw a line between romantic pearls and striking colors. |
MORE is LOVE: How did you establish your own brand? Malli: I created a collection just for my friends and myself. It instantly became very popular and one of the shops bought the entire collection. This is when I realized I needed to create a brand and think of a concept. Everything happened out of the blue, this is why I do everything last minute. MORE is LOVE: Why MALLI? Malli: It’s first letters of my children’s names. I have a girl Malika and a boy Alidar, they are my most precious gift. MORE is LOVE: Who would you like to see in Malli? Malli: Very hard to answer. There are just too many women I adore. Natasha Goldenberg, Ksenia Sobchak, Meruert Ibragim (she already owns Malli pieces), just to name a few. |
I think my Kazakhstan roots haven't come out in my work just yet, but I am sure later on in the future they will.
MORE is LOVE: What are you working on right now? Malli: Right now I am looking for a new style for my jewelry line. I like minimalism and geometry at the moment. Also I am working on a design for my future store. I try to do everything at the same time and, of course, but focusing on my fashion line. MORE is LOVE: How do you separate Malli Jewelry from Malli fashion? Malli: Jewelry is the main direction of my brand. With fashion, I am just exploring myself and I am loving it. I am planning on taking it seriously. I want to participate in Fashion Weeks and so on, we'll see where it takes me. I don’t want to create boundaries for myself, right now I'm doing everything that interests me. |
MORE is LOVE: How is your collection connected to Kazakhstan and your roots? Malli: We are a young country. We absorb a lot form Europe and Asia, it is always a fusion of traditions and new influences. I am always doing something new, aiming to promote our evolving fashion industry. My roots hasn’t come out in my work just yet, but I am sure later on in the future they will. MORE is LOVE: How do you start working on a new collection? Where does the process begin? Malli: Process begins when I stop feeling the progress… I always try to be ahead of this feeling. Never get bored. I try to spend a lot of time imagining things, looking for a source of inspiration. The main thing is the idea; the rest can be bought or made. |
MORE is LOVE: What do you love the most in your job? Malli: Creating things people want to have and, wearing them, feel better and prettier. I love when women tell me that they couldn’t sleep thinking about a Malli coat or, how they want to buy a Malli bracelet. It is very gratifying, but I am sure it's because of my ambitions. MORE is LOVE: What is the distinctive characteristic of Kazakhstani fashion? Malli: Our industry is very young. We are unexperienced, but I see only advantages in it, we are trying to establish ourselves. Kazakhstani fashion industry is slowly evolving and I am happy to be a part of it. |
Kazakhstani fashion industry is slowly evolving and I am happy to be a part of it.
MORE is LOVE: What was the first piece of jewelry you ever owned? Malli: Beautiful drop earrings with green stones. MORE is LOVE: Who would you like to work with? Any collaboration in mind? Malli: I already have an experience working with Saks Fifth Avenue Almaty and I consider it a big success, becouse Malli is the first Kazakhstani brand to be sold in this legendary store. MORE is LOVE: How would you describe your ultimate goal as a jewelry designer? Malli: Establish a big company with a good team, and make my clients happy. |
LOVE is… "harmony"