Knitwear With Paychi Guh

Q&A
Written By Kristi Smith
Paychi Guh

After 15 years as a textile designer and design director at Nordstrom, Paychi Karen Guh set out to create seasonless knitwear that met all of her criteria— luxurious yet comfortable; unique yet understated.

So, in 2013, she launched her own line, Paychi Guh, which combined her knowledge of knitwear with her passion for architecture and modern art. The result is a collection of knitwear, most of which is made with special worsted cashmere that oozes luxury with a modern casual twist.

 

Q: What makes your work distinctive? What makes it stand out from other cashmere knitwear?

A: Our focus on worsted cashmere yarn is one key feature that makes our cashmere knitwear stand out.

Worsted cashmere is a finer, smoother, and higher-quality cashmere; only the longest fibers (longer than 36 mm) can be spun into worsted yarn.

By using fine worsted cashmere, we are able to produce lightweight and breathable pieces with exceptional comfort.

Another key characteristic of our cashmere knitwear is the innovative silhouettes with subtle design details. I design by draping and collaging to create unique and flattering shapes, and to make sure each piece looks beautiful from every angle.

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Q: You spent 15 years working as a textile designer and design director at Nordstrom. What did you learn there and how did that experience shape your work?

A: During my time at Nordstrom, I learned from industry veterans how to turn a design idea into a product and bring it to the market. This includes everything from global sourcing and production to merchandising and fashion marketing, and this experience has helped me tremendously.

I also have witnessed brands becoming popular and then declining over the years. At the end of the day, only unique, quality products will win over the customers in the long run.

 

Q: It looks like you’ve lived in a variety of places—Taiwan, Vancouver, London, Philadelphia and now in Seattle. What has been your favorite place to live and how would you compare the fashion and lifestyle in those places?

A: I always say that I need to live in a place I can wear cashmere all year round! Right now, I really enjoy living in the Pacific Northwest. In our neighborhood, we are surrounded by mountains and trails; it is a very casual mix of outdoor and high-tech lifestyles without much “fashion.”

My favorite place to live is Vancouver, BC. It really has the best of all things I look for in an enjoyable life: mountains, water, kind people, chic metropolitan areas, awesome food, and my parents and sister.

London has the most crushing fashion scene in my opinion. I love seeing suited business people walking alongside punk fashionable youngsters on a busy morning. People express themselves through how they dress and it is inspiring to watch.     

 

Q: What is your best-selling item and why?

A: Over the years, the L/S Boxy Tee has been my bestseller. This lightweight top features a simple shape that is slimming and flattering, with a touch of contrast color seaming detail. It is a luxurious yet casual tee in fine worsted cashmere that is great for everyday wear. A lot of my customers come back for a second or third color!

The best-selling item from Fall 2017 is the Boyfriend Pullover. It is a casual go-to piece you can throw over your tee and jeans for coffee and meeting friends. And it has pockets!

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Q: Which of your own pieces do you wear the most? Why?

A: I wear my Everyday Scoop in black and navy all the time (I have four of them!). It is a top seller from my very first season back in 2013. I love the fabrication and the loose fit of the body and sleeves. Cashmere gets softer after each wash, so over the years they have become super comfy. This style goes with everything I have and I always travel with a couple of them!

 

Q: What was a challenging time for you or your business and how did you overcome it?

A: The most challenging time was our Spring 2016 season. Our production was delayed so we could not deliver the goods in time until months later. About 50% of orders were canceled and we had to refund deposits to our buyers. Fortunately, since we had a good track record of delivering goods early and we kept the line of communications open and honest with each buyer during this unexpected delay, most of our buyers still placed orders for the coming seasons. 

Since then, I have visited our factory in Inner Mongolia four times a year and have been working with them very closely on production approvals to push up the production timeline as much as possible, in order to ensure that I can meet my delivery timeframe.

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Q: Tell us about your fall collection. How do you see your work evolving?

A: For fall 2017, besides our lightweight cashmere essentials, we are offering ponchos, wraps and cocoon cardigans as jacket alternatives. We expanded the collection by introducing new silhouettes and new cashmere yarns, and adding more fun elements such as color, details, and textures to the pieces. 

You have a son, Matthew. How do you balance your work and family life? 

I am very fortunate that I work from home so I can manage my work around my family’s schedule. I promised myself not to overwork so that I can spend quality time with my family and enjoy designing at the same time. I also travel at least once or twice a year with my husband and son, very often to a new city or a new country. It is the best way to bond with the family while experiencing life and getting inspired!

 

Q: What are two things that most people don’t know about you?

A: I was born left-handed but was trained to use my right hand to write and use chopsticks. I ended up being pretty good with both hands, but still play sports and use scissors and knives with my left hand.

I am the middle child of five siblings. We live in five different cities in the U.S., Canada, and Taiwan but always make an effort to get together once a year for a family reunion with my parents. And we all wear Paychi Guh cashmere!

 

Originally published in the FW 2017 Stylebook. Check out our latest edition.

 

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