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Although Naida Begeta, designer of Kao Pao Shu, is serious about her craft, her light-hearted demeanor is woven into every design.

Raised in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Begeta specialized in product design while attending the University of Sarajevo’s Academy of Fine Arts. Her education and training there would later support the structured designs of Kao Pao Shu. “Creating is between me and the [material],” says Begeta who recently completed samples of her Fall 2010 collection. Each piece has its own intricate detail, and the amazing part is that everything is hand-made.

Begeta says her one-of-a-kind pieces “allows [her] not to be limited to five or 10 pieces of the exact same [design].” The process might be more tedious, but Begeta wouldn’t have it any other way; It allows her to treat every client like a private client, using her natural tools to manipulate and expose the true beauty of each fabric. In fact, in a sense, the materials speak to Begeta and breathe life into her black and white designs. Stripe Up Yourself, a collection inspired by Begeta’s use of ribbons and stripes, is a wonderful display of her organic construction. Moreover, the collection’s color array is indicative of Begeta’s fun personality.

“I design what I want to wear,” says Begeta, whose collections comprise of comfortable, basic items. But what sets Kao Pao Shu apart from other fashion houses is the “something extra,” as Begeta refers to her embellishments, added to each garment. Kao Pao Shu pieces originated with its handbags known for its bow-like shape and durable construction. The form of the original bags was created almost by accident, as Begeta let the webbing guide her, but the purpose was no mistake. After searching for a fun bag and coming up with no results, Begeta started making her own totes and soon took orders from family and friends. Now, she acknowledges her then-hobby as her vocation, never forgetting the original purpose of fun. “Fun is putting something on and wearing it in the morning and afternoon, changing one thing, and being ready for the evening.”

Kao Pao Shu, Begeta explained, was an actress in Hong Kong whose ground-breaking roles inspired the brand’s name. “She was one of the few women doing experimental cinema [at the time].” Learning more about Kao Pao Shu, Begeta was moved by a “particular something” she saw in the actress.

Currently, the brand Kao Pao Shu is Begeta’s evolving labor of love. It has taken over in the large fashion cities of Milan and Japan and was brought to Los Angeles with the hope of eventually conquering the United States. With hand-made fashions and accessories, there’s no doubt Begeta’s affordable avant-garde pieces have already established a reputation of edgy yet elegant, comfortable couture.

7227 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles | 323.937.0081 | www.KaoPaoShu.it