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Bernard ChandranFashion designer from Malaysia
Date of Birth: 27.02.1968
Country:  Malaysia |
Content:
Biography of Bernard Chandran
Bernard Chandran, whose full name is Dato' Bernard Chandran, was born in 1968 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Coming from a modest family, his mother was Chinese and his father moved to Malaysia from India in search of a better life. Although his family was not wealthy, they were not destitute either. From a young age, Bernard was influenced by his father, who believed that the only suitable career for his son was accounting. Bernard initially believed his father and agreed that it was a "good career."
Fortunately, something made him pause and deviate from this path. That "something" was fashion. After seeing his first fashion show on television, Bernard realized that being a fashion designer was his true calling. At the age of 16, he started sewing clothes at home, not for sale but to give to his close ones and wear himself. After completing school, he faced a difficult time as his father continued to push his aspirations for accounting. However, Bernard resisted and convinced his father of his own convictions.
Eventually, Bernard enrolled in the International Fashion Training Centre, a small branch of a European college that provided the basics of fashion design. Models, clothing, and fashion magazines surrounded him during his college years. Shy by nature, he quickly became the object of ridicule by female models who laughed as they watched him blush, being the only man in a room full of half-naked models.
Just three months after university, Bernard organized his first fashion show and a few months later, he won a scholarship to attend the prestigious Paris Fashion School in Paris, France. In 1991, he participated in the "Open European Contest for Look of the Year 2000." Despite the large number of participants from Europe and America, this unknown boy from Malaysia emerged victorious. He became the first Asian to win this competition.
"It was simply amazing!" Bernard said in an interview with a magazine. "I am so happy to be the first 'non-white' winner; it proves that Asians are just as capable, if not better, than everyone else." As a prize, the aspiring designer received a professional camera, 19,000 francs, and most importantly, he became instantly famous worldwide.
Immediately after his victory, Bernard received an offer from French fashion legislator Lolita Lempicka. However, he declined, stating, "I want to be completely confident in myself before starting to work in Fashion Houses. Expectations are high, and you simply cannot afford to make mistakes." Unlike his competitors, Bernard never wanted to "shoot to stardom" quickly. He believed that success requires not only practical knowledge but also cultural knowledge, which includes understanding the history of fashion.
In 1993, Bernard returned to Malaysia and opened his own Fashion House located in a rented house in the center of Kuala Lumpur. There, he started working and gradually attracted the attention of the most influential families in the city, including the royal family. The seemingly impulsive decision to move from Paris was, in fact, a well-planned move. Bernard realized that his career in Malaysia, where he is considered a national hero, would develop much faster than in Europe, where there are already plenty of Fashion Houses to compete with.
His clothing is noticeably different from what is considered "ordinary." It incorporates elements of Chinese and Indian culture, but comfort always takes precedence. "I seek inspiration from my clients: we get to know each other, have conversations, and then I incorporate their unique qualities into the clothing. When I first see someone, I make it clear that I am here to make you more beautiful."
Bernard's favorite designers are Valentino and John Galliano.
It is known that Bernard Chandran is married to one of his former models, Datin Mary Lourdes Chandran. She is one of the most famous models from Malaysia, although her peak career years were in the late 1980s. Bernard tries not to expose his children to luxury, wanting them to understand the true value of money.
