Funktional
Wearable avant-garde—that is the look of Funktional. Designer Jennifer Park debuted the collection for Fall/Holiday at the MAGIC Marketplace last August. Park said she created the collection for the girl who loves designer brands but doesn’t have the budget for expensive clothes. Funktional offers affordable clothing with a high-fashion edge. “I’m really into the avant-garde,” Park said. “I want to make things that I truly want to wear and for really stylish people.”
The look is inspired by some of Park’s favorite designers and labels, including Ann Demeulemeester, Rick Owens, Junya Watanabe and Comme des Garccedil;ons. Prior to launching Funktional, Park gleaned experience working for various contemporary brands during the past eight years. The diversity of experience gave her the knowledge of not only what is fashionable but also what sells. She decided to launch Funktional to create her own fashion vision.
Park designs the collection, which she co-owns with a partner based in China. They are able to offer affordable price points by manufacturing out of their own small factory. By making their samples and smaller quantities of goods, they are able to avoid a middle margin and offer lower price points.
It’s a simple theory, Park explains: “We want to sell more.” Wholesale price points range from $20 to $58 for tops, $18 to $46 for bottoms, $26 to $68 for dresses, $28 to $98 for jackets and $98 to $240 for leather pieces. The look and price point have been a hit with retailers such as Oak’s A.Ok in New York; Shotwell in San Francisco; and Diavolina, Revolve, Atmosphere and Fred Segal Emphatic in the Los Angeles area, which have all picked up the line.
The Korean-born designer said she uses her fashion-forward approach to create pieces for a customer with a modern sensibility who understands refined details and appreciates luxurious, high-quality fabrications. The look ranges from wearable edgy silhouettes to easy silk tops and dresses, full-fashion knits and innovative tailored jackets. Comfort and versatility are key. A cotton tee is oversized for a more democratic fit, and cardigans are made to be worn right side up or upside down for a full-length or cropped option. The collection is made from brushed silk, chambray, cotton voile, washed leather and washed rayon twill. Styles range from T-shirts with an avant-garde twist to trendy harem pants, stretch-silk leggings, classic velvet blazers and chic dresses with futuristic cage-like structures on the shoulders.
“I do a little twist to basics,” Park said. “Everybody can pretty much pull it off. It’s not too much [of] a piece of art. I try to make it a little bit different so we can differentiate from other lines and be a little bit unique.”—N. Jayne Seward
