Blanc Noir & Couture: Issue No.9

Features
the
spiritual
and artistic
Inspirationof
Colleen Quen
by Ivanna Woods | Photos by Robert Silver
Inspired by the brilliance of
nature’s motifs, influenced by the
vivid colors in Matisse's oil
paintings and intricacy of Chinese
calligraphy, San Francisco
Couturiere Colleen Quen continues
to create contemporary fashion,
thirty years in the making.
Creative Director: Ivanna Woods
Models: Victoria Jasper, Rumiko McCarthy, Adeline
Chichi, Khloe Andrea Elkins
Makeup by Tamiko Carrillo & Gracie Ziegler
Hair by Tony Elizondo
Quen is proud to be a fourth generation Chinese
American, a pride that is emulated in her artistry. Born
in Alameda, California, this Bay Area native is a naturally
talented artist that took her gift to the next level
through exemplary education. She graduated from the
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 1986
with an Associates of Arts in Fashion Design and upon
completion, she fashioned an impassioned career on a
ten year foundation for Wilkes Sport for Wilkes Bashford,
Eileen West, Gap, Jane Tise / Karen Alexander and
Joan Walters.
Upon realizing how transformative obtaining the
highest level of education would be for her career,
Quen then applied to study at Simmone Sethna School
of French Couture and graduated with a certificate in
French Couture in 1996. She went on to solidify her
business savvy by opening her own couture design
company, Colleen Quen Couture, Inc. in 2000.
Colleen Quen has known she wanted to be a designer
for virtually the entirety of her life. “I realized I wanted
to be a designer when my mom took me to my
favorite fabric store to choose the dress I wanted her to
create for a party when I was five years old. My mom’s
fabric cabinet was like a treasure box of crayons for
me. From 5 to 52 years old presently - over 47 years of
inspiration” she shares. When asked about the style her
line exemplifies, ‘strength, elegance and inner natural
beauty’ are the descriptive terms Quen chose. Colleen
Quen Couture, Inc. falls under ‘fashion as wearable art’
she says. She creates evening wear, cocktail, bridal,
travel, and artwear disciplines through commissions
only. ‘I am an artist creating work through instillations,
equaling harmony in design.’
Quen’s sculptured garments showcase all that she is
inspired by (nature, color, calligraphy, French culture),
married with luminous volumes of textiles that
fulfills her artistic expression. “I am an Asian American
designer - which gives inspiration through my ancient
Chinese culture and also with my San Francisco
/ Northwest American values as well as the essence
of design and refinement that is French culture. I feel
I am a melting pot of diverse perspectives - from this
mastery of wisdom I can create infinite style that is well
received internationally.”
Her aforementioned design inspirations do not cease
there. Quen goes on to say that she is ‘particularly
inspired by nature and how it can be formed on the
human body - how my design can transform the inner
spirit when a human wears my work. External + internal
design. Form + formless. Fluid + Femme + Architectural
+ Masculine. ’ This is how the ethereally dynamic
design powerhouse continues to design year after
year. She applies an artistic practice of layering colorful
44 | Fashion Xchange Magazine | Blanc Noir & Couture