Q&A: Hanoux Trunk Show

Miami Beach, FL – October 18, 2015 – There’s a new clothing brand that is taking comfort to a whole new level. Hanoux is the creative fusion of Brooklyn based designers, Hannah Ross and Kristin Culmo. Guided by the five elemental forces – Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Aether – Ross and Culmo instill natural beauty into performance clothing for men and women that will last a lifetime. Hanoux means ‘to heal’ – through color, shape, pattern, movement, and prayer.

WRE: Tell us about how Hanoux started?

KC & HR: The Hanoux partnership of Hannah Ross and Kristin Culmo began in 2013, our last year studying design at Pratt Institute. We worked together harmoniously, our opposite strengths and shared passion for color and pattern led us to collaborate on photo shoots, textile design and clothing during school. We also studied Textile Design at the Danish Royal Academy in Copenhagen and there both discovered a true love for timeless, handmade fabrics. We decided that designing a wearable clothing collection was going to be our medium to implement our own original textiles. Hanoux means to heal – through color, shape, pattern, movement and prayer.

WRE: Where do you guys draw inspiration from in your designs?

KC & HR: Our main source is found in the natural world – the colors and patterns in our current collection specifically represent the classical elements: earth, water, fire, air and aether (the least known of the elements, aether, exists in space beyond the material world). The organic yet repetitive nature of our dye techniques mimic patterns we see in waves, tree bark, seashells and rocks. Spending time away from the city to observe these natural phenomena is an important part of our design process. The ancient Japanese art of Shibori has taught us to create different dye patterns to evoke the elements.

WRE: Do you get the clothing (pre-dyed) from a manufacturer?

KC & HR: No way! We do not get the clothing from a manufacturer – all the garments we sell are original Hanoux designs. Hannah graduated from Pratt with a BFA in Fashion Design, so creating original garments is her area of expertise. We source fabric (cotton jersey) in the Manhattan Garment District, design prototypes and patterns from concept to creation in our studio, then we dye, cut and sew the fabric. All aspects of our clothing are completely original and unique to Hanoux.

Ashley Jordan

Hannah Ross

Hanoux will always strive to be sustainable and offer organic beauty to the world through timeless products.

Hannah Ross & Kristin Culmo, Founders of Hanoux

Hannah Ross & Soeuraya Wilson

WRE: Who comes up with the styles? What does that creative process look like?

KC & HR: Two dual energies come together in our creative process; Hannah executes first design samples to then be tested by a variety of people including ourselves. We move around in each Hanoux style to ensure comfort, great fit and timeless design. Together we practice Shibori techniques and do lots of dye testing until we find the perfect colors to dye the fabric. Kristin’s keen eye for styling and creation of Hanoux graphic design brings all the clothing together to create our elemental collection. The natural form and function of the human body inform our decisions on how the clothing should fit and feel when it is worn. The silhouettes encourage movement – we strive to create clothing that is comfortable and embracing for all body types.

Hannah Ross, Kristin Culmo, & Soeuraya Wilson

WRE: Describe the vibe of your studio.

KC & HR: The current vibe of our studio is communal, relaxed and eclectic. We share our space with two other friends who screen print and make textiles. Together we have an extensive collection of dyes and inks, bins upon bins of fabric, sewing machines, tools for dyeing and mixing, lots of books and magazines. Inspiration is constantly flowing around us; we have a ton of artwork displayed on the walls, fabric and sculptures hanging from the ceiling, plants growing in the windowsill, music usually playing in the background.

Hannah Ross

WRE: What kind of message do you want Hanoux styles to give out?

KC & HR: Hanoux is about embracing natural beauty, instilling a sense of harmony and relaxation in the wearer, celebrating the pure essence of color and the delight of pattern. Empowering the wearer to move freely by using stretch fabrics and emancipating silhouettes. Our pattern and color combinations are intended to be a source of meditation for the wearer, allowing one’s eyes to vibrate and enjoy the imperfect repetition.

Hannah Ross

WRE: What kind of person is rocking Hanoux clothing? 

KC & HR: The Hanoux tribe of people are those who can feel the raw energy emanating from our clothing, and who recognize the quality and intention in our designs. Our creative process is very hands-on, and the dye process especially is very meditative for us – the fabric spends a lot of time in our hands. We wash, fold, scrunch, and hand rinse each piece; the energy and love we put into our clothing is received and felt by the customers. Hanoux wearers have active lifestyles, carry positive attitudes, like to move, dance and run around, have adventurous spirits, and think of clothing as a means of celebration and expression. Hanoux customers are conscious consumers who care about where and how their clothing is made, who feel an emotional connection to the clothing and intend to keep their Hanoux clothing forever.

Hannah Ross & Soeuraya Wilson

WRE: Where do you see Hanoux 10 years from now?

KC & HR: It’s fun to imagine where Hanoux will be 10 years from now — we will still be creating, but with a decade of new knowledge.  Hanoux will not always just make activewear; we would like to see our company expand into different design realms such as custom dyeing collaborations, one of kind couture pieces, swimwear, interior design and maybe furniture!

Soeuraya Wilson

Soeuraya Wilson

Kristin Culmo

Soeuraya Wilson, Kristin Culmo, & Hannah Ross

Kristin Culmo