Arbiter of Style

Whether Andrew Kwon is chatting about fashion, architecture, beauty, or travel, a refreshing throughline quickly emerges: emotional connectivity. At just 29 years old, the Korean-American designer has catapulted onto the fashion scene, emerging from his at-home studio in 2021 to “it” designer status among the biggest and brightest stars. He’s recently dressed the likes of Chrissy Teigen, Lucy Liu, and Regina Hall, among others.  

And yet, he’s still quick to recall his a-ha fashion moment, when he was age 19 and watched his mom get married. Amidst all the recent personal accolades, he’s managed to remain grounded, and continually inspired, as seen in his Collection 9, lauded for its ethereal, fairy-tale-like quality and detail.

Lucky for Exclusive Resorts, Kwon has become The Club’s newest arbiter of style, bringing Members a bespoke experience like never before. He’s extending his elegant and artistic hand to the exclusive Club circle, offering an insider take on the world of fashion. Kwon will personally oversee all bespoke appointments for Exclusive Resorts Members, who are given priority access to his newest collections, including private previews before they debut to the public, along with exclusive fashion programming. From behind-the-scenes showcases of how his designs come to life to rare glimpses of his process; this new partnership opens the stylish doors to a fashion world for a privileged few.

Travel, he explains, has had a major influence on his design. Speaking to Exclusive Resorts from his studio in New York City, Kwon says, “When I was in Marseilles, France, I climbed a beautiful castle and looked down to this huge sea of water that inspired one of the blue gowns in my bridal collection. The oranges and greens of St. Barts naturally inspired my newest evening wear collection. And when I visited Korea, I would see how a bridge looked during the transition from day to evening, and how the orange of the dusk sky mixed with the blues. I would look up to the stars, which you don't see a lot of back home in New York City, and that inspired the sparkle in collections, and some of the ombrés we’re now doing.” Kwon also spoke about his mentors, the fashion of Greek goddesses, how milestone moments anchor his vision, and where he’s jet-setting next.

Brand History

Exclusive Resorts: What inspired the inception of your brand?

Andrew: I've always dreamt of having something of my own one day, and I’m a huge believer of taking leaps of faith and following gut instincts. My mom’s wedding day was a pivotal moment for me. I was 19, and it was the first wedding I ever attended. There was something about that emotional moment that was so captivating. I saw then how powerful the moment of walking down the aisle could be.

Exclusive Resorts: How have your experiences with renowned fashion houses shaped your approach to design and craftsmanship?

Andrew: I took every internship opportunity I had and built that experience into the brand. Those internships included places like Chloe, Vera Wang, and Marchesa. I went to Parsons to study architecture and interior design. I wasn't very good at it (he laughs), but I did love architects like Peter Marino and Zaha Hadid. There was one professor at Parsons that looked at me and asked, ‘Why are you not doing fashion?’ And my parents also told me, ‘You should really pursue what you want to do.’ So, I switched into fashion. I started writing a business plan and launched on Valentine’s Day 2021, which was such a crazy time amidst the pandemic.”

The Creative Process  

Exclusive Resorts: How do specific couture techniques like draping, embroidery, and fabric manipulation contribute to the uniqueness of your designs?

Andrew: Instead of going full-on with beaded embroidery, we created molded, 3D florals. We call it our modern couture floral embroidery: gold and silver petals and foiled feathers in the flowers. And instead of sending a dress to an embroiderer, we're doing it in-house, getting markers and painting it ourselves, which takes 75 hours for one dress. I also started exploring a lot of draping, with capes and one-shoulder drapes, because I love Greek mythology. When looking at our pieces from collection one to nine, there's an ANDREW KWON brand DNA, but it’s always changing and evolving. I look at the designers from the early 1900s, and how incredibly precious their draping techniques were. I am bringing some of that back into my pieces now. It's tedious work, but it’s something I felt was getting lost. 

Dressing a Bride & Non-Bridal Moments  

Exclusive Resorts: What are the key differences in your creative process when designing for brides compared to non-bridal clients?

Andrew: Sometimes bridal will have more fittings; there can be a lot of back and forth to tweak everything. With evening wear, there are often less fittings. But anything that a client comes to us for, we will never let them leave if it's not perfected, and if the art isn’t reflective of our brand.

Exclusive Resorts: How do you balance the emotional significance of bridal wear with the fashion-forward demands of non-bridal clients? 

Andrew: Whether a woman is walking down the aisle, a beautiful hallway, into a gallery, or to a fundraiser, they all are special, precious, and impactful moments, mentally and emotionally. When they're walking into that room, [the design] really shows who they are before they even say anything.

Made-To-Order Magic

Exclusive Resorts: What red carpet moments or celebrity collaborations have been particularly impactful for your brand?

Andrew: Recently, Chrissy Teigen. She graced the red carpet at the 2024 Academy Museum Gala and has been an inspiration to a lot of women. Lucy Liu was someone I've always watched growing up, and I loved Ashley Park from Emily in Paris. Regina Hall, an amazing comedian and actress, was nominated for The Independent Spirit Awards, and Lily Gladstone for her nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon. To dress so many diverse, different types of women has been very special.

Exclusive Resorts: What must be considered for made-to-order designs? 

Andrew: Made-to-order for us has been incredible, and it essentially means you’re taking a piece from the existing collections and making a new one for the client. We never sell our samples or original pieces, and we have an six- to 12-month lead time, ensuring a personalized fit for each client. (But of course are willing to go above and beyond for any client that needs it sooner!). Any moment that we're creating is an incredibly special moment, because it’s an important investment of time, money, and emotional capacity.  

The Power of Partnerships

Exclusive Resorts: In what ways have collaborations and sponsorships enhanced your brand's presence during significant fashion events?

Andrew: I learned from one of my mentors that you always want to start at the top. You want to be surrounded by and work with people at their highest level, whether it was Manolo Blahnik, or Stuart Weitzman, or any of the luxury hotels around New York we've worked with. I recently produced my New York Fashion Week show at a dear friend of mine's restaurant called Coqodaq. It's fried chicken with caviar and champagne — so fun — and it's one of the hardest restaurants to get into. When you see how beautiful that space is — the archways are filled with enough little crystals to fill the Chrysler Building — opportunities like that help catapult our name and our brand in a different way.

Travel Insights & Favorite Destinations

Exclusive Resorts: What is your ultimate “happy place”?

Andrew: Los Angeles has always been a happy place for me. Since I was young, it was somewhere I always dreamt of visiting, and the first flight I ever took was to LA, when I was 12 years old. I spent part of my childhood in Colorado Springs, so I’ve been to Aspen many times, but I particularly love Beaver Creek and Vail. There's something about being indoors when it's snowing a lot, or reaching the top of a mountain. There's a calmness that feels very reminiscent of my childhood.

Exclusive Resorts: Any upcoming travel plans or destinations tied to your current or next project? 

Andrew: We are headed to Palm Beach, Florida, soon, which will be great. And of course, now I’m looking forward to the many amazing Exclusive Resorts properties! I’m going to the Dominican Republic soon, too, and can’t wait.  

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