Fashion designer Trish Peng.
Confession Box: Trish Peng
PRIDE
You once said you wanted to be the next Vera Wang. Is that still true?
Yes, definitely. I have always had quite a lot of confidence with where I am heading with my brand I guess, whether or not people believed in those abilities. From the
age of 7, I knew I wanted to be a designer, I have always had this goal and never questioned I could do it, it's more like I know I can do it and it just depends what path I take to be the next Vera Wang. My goal is to have an empire and not a little baby business.
Why apologise for having ambition and knowing what you want?
Growing up in New Zealand everyone is quite humble. I work out of Auckland and Los Angeles and the Americans and are more like, "Yeah I am the best." Even if they have done something little, they brag about it. I was always taught to be a little bit humble but with confidence. It's that tall poppy syndrome.
So far in your empire you have the Auckland business and the Los Angeles business. What's next?
The next step is to go global. I have always specialised in custom wedding dresses. The next step is growing that wholesale market, so I can be stocked globally, in any country, in any city, in bridal stores everywhere, so anyone can get their hands on my designs.
LUST
You design quite sexy wedding gowns.
The whole wedding industry is built around love, love, love and pleasures of the body, I guess. My job is all about giving clients pleasure with the way their body looks on their special day - to make the most of their curves, getting that perfect fit, creating a gown just for them. My gowns are definitely more fitted than the American style. That's what the Kiwi bride wants, I find, the more classic style, while the American bride wants the pouf and the bling and the sparkle. I always tell them to flaunt one thing or two things - you can show your bust and you can show a little back but let's not do leg. You don't want it to be overly sexy.
