Bach Mai on Designing H.E.R.'s Grammys Dress and His Fall 2023 Collection

Published on 2/15/2023 at 10:00 AM

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Innovation in fashion continues to reach new heights with emerging New York-based designer Bach Mai. The son of Vietnamese parents who immigrated to Houston, Mai started out working as an apprentice for the Houston Ballet. He later cultivated his passion for dressmaking at the Parsons School of Design and while studying under John Galliano at Maison Margiela. No stranger to the New York Fashion Week scene, the designer returned with a captivating fall 2023 collection entitled Cave of the Sirens, which he tells POPSUGAR is inspired by an exploration of light and embraces an aesthetic that "empowers the wearer."

A host of celebrities have worn Mai's enchanting designs, including award-winning singer and actress H.E.R. She graced the 2023 Grammy Awards carpet in a black velvet dress by the designer that featured a sharply curved neckline, a tiered peplum waist, a soft bodice, and a sheer skirt with matte velvet swirls. "Every time someone chooses to wear something from us, I have to pinch myself a bit," Mai says. "It is quite surreal to think about our designs being worn on red carpets which I used to follow obsessively when I was younger like the Met Gala, the Grammys, and the Golden Globes."

Lupita Nyong'o and Olivia Palermo wore his designs at the "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" press tour and the 2022 Glamour Women of the Year awards, respectively.

On Feb. 9, Mai joined stylist Marta Del Rio and KitchenAid for a celebratory presentation in honor of the American home appliance brand's 2023 Color of the Year: Hibiscus. The special show debuted an avant-garde collection inspired by the brand's Artisan Stand Mixer and K400 Blender. It featured Del Rio's and Mai's creations, along with the work of other talented designers such as Tia Adeola, Jackson Wiederhoeft, Vesper Han of ManMadeSkins, and Tara Babylon.

As a lover of culinary arts, partnering with KitchenAid seemed almost innate for Mai, who used the brand's classic stand mixer throughout his childhood. "We feel that [this design] recalls the luscious petal shapes of the enchanting hibiscus flower while also achieving the inverted silhouette of the iconic bowl shape of the KitchenAid Stand Mixer," he shares.

Del Rio also feels Mai was an organic fit for the project. The stylist, who has worked with everyone from Billie Eilish to Paris Hilton, personally selected the talented designer. "I wanted to champion young designers that have developed a uniquely identifiable visual language within their collections in the same way that KitchenAid has an immediately recognizable set of design codes," Del Rio explains. "Bach Mai felt like a natural obvious choice because of the elegance and proportions of his work. I knew he could take inspiration from both the man-made product and the hibiscus itself to create a beautiful piece that would be both incredibly creative and wearable, and he succeeded."

Ahead, Mai opens up about his fall 2023 collection, his many celebrity fans, and his collaboration with KitchenAid. Keep reading for the full interview and to shop KitchenAid's new appliances.

Bach Mai on the Inspiration Behind His Fall 2023 Collection

POPSUGAR: What's the inspiration behind your latest collection showing at NYFW? What do you hope for people to feel when they wear pieces from this collection?

Bach Mai: Our fall 2023 collection showing at NYFW is entitled Cave of the Sirens and is inspired by an exploration of light. We always strive for my clothes to empower the wearer. Regardless of aesthetic, there is magic in the moment someone puts something on that makes them feel amazing and as if they can take on the world. That empowering ability of fashion is what we try to achieve with everything we design.

On Celebrities Embracing His Designs

PS: How did it feel to have your designs worn by trailblazing stars like H.E.R., Lupita Nyong'o, and Olivia Palermo?

BM: Every time someone chooses to wear something from us, it is always a special moment, and I have to pinch myself a bit. It is quite surreal to think about our designs being worn on red carpets which I used to follow obsessively when I was younger like the Met Gala, the Grammys, and the Golden Globes, and I cannot be grateful enough for all of the support.

On His Unique Design For KitchenAid

PS: Tell us how your design for the curated collection was inspired by KitchenAid appliances and the brand's color of the year.

BM: This design uses our signature sculptural volant technique. We feel that it recalls the luscious petal shapes of the enchanting hibiscus flower while also achieving the inverted silhouette of the iconic bowl shape of the KitchenAid stand mixer.

On Partnering With KitchenAid

PS: Why did you choose to partner with KitchenAid, and what do you love about the brand?

BM: I have loved food and started cooking way before I started to explore my love of fashion. Even as a kindergartner, I would go to the library to rent cookbooks, and I was always glued to the Food Network. I remember when I got my first KitchenAid stand mixer for Christmas one year; I was so happy and so excited to use it!

To say that the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer is the gold standard would be an understatement, and I don't believe the kitchen for any passionate chef, amateur, or professional is complete without one. I currently have one in tangerine orange, my favorite color, in my New York apartment. With my love for the product, partnering with KitchenAid was a natural partnership.

Marta Del Rio on Selecting Bach Mai to Design a Piece Inspired by KitchenAid

PS: How did you go about selecting the designers for this project? What made you choose Bach Mai specifically, and what do you love about his work?

Marta Del Rio: I wanted to champion young designers that have developed a uniquely identifiable visual language within their collections in the same way that KitchenAid has an immediately recognizable set of design codes. Bach Mai felt like a natural obvious choice because of the elegance and proportions of his work. I knew he could take inspiration from both the man-made product and the hibiscus itself to create a beautiful piece that would be both incredibly creative and wearable, and he succeeded.

On Curating a Collection For KitchenAid

PS: Why did you decide to work with KitchenAid to design and curate a collection around its 2023 Color of the Year?

MDR: KitchenAid is an iconic American industrial consumer brand, and as someone who grew up outside of America, it felt very much like a full-circle moment and rite of passage to be able to work with such a truly American household brand. One of KitchenAid's key themes when they approached me was that they believe the kitchen is for everyone, and that's a core tenant of the work that I do. That really was the final deciding factor for me! The project was exciting and the color opportunity was epic, but the inclusive brand ethos and message was very important to me.

On Drawing Inspiration For the KitchenAid Event Space

PS: How does the event space represent the fusion of fashion and lifestyle? Where did you draw inspiration from when designing it?

MDR: To represent the fusion of fashion and lifestyle, I felt it was key for the space to be completely immersive and unexpected but also instantly recognizable as KitchenAid anywhere you looked. You'll see the iconic KitchenAid trim band running throughout the venue across the walls of the venue, and when you put your drink down you'll realize it's on a custom-made brushed-metal countertop. We've secured over 10,000 square feet of hibiscus carpet and even designed a custom-welded light sculpture inspired by the hibiscus bloom itself. When you look up, you'll see a ceiling of reflective chrome orbs that echo the entire space from above. It's truly been designed to be the most epic, Instagram-ready event of Fashion Week.