A Kenilworth designer holds her first solo trunk show.

by Ursula Gullow . photos by Matt Rose

When Valerie Hoh moved to Asheville six years ago, she decided it was time to become a fashion designer. She’d had years of textile and ceramic design training in London, but she enrolled in sewing and computer classes at A-B Tech. Two years later, she is selling her edgy wearables around the globe and locally out of her Kenilworth studio.

Hoh, 61, was born in Malaysia but frequently revisits Hong Kong, where she spent part of her childhood, to collect new materials for her clothing line. She attributes her rock-n-roll fashion aesthetic to her raucous past and international travels. (She used to be married to Ted Nugent’s drummer.)

Now, she travels to Key West each winter to throw a one-woman fashion show and sale at the chi-chi Gardens Hotel. This month, she’s holding her first solo Asheville trunk show in her Kenilworth studio to launch a new line of handbags, which incorporate functional details like wide shoulder straps.

Finding her niche in the Asheville market has been challenging. Younger people sometimes like her rock-themed outfits but can’t afford them if they’re in the $200 range. To fix this, Hoh has begun making scarves and clutches to sell at lower price points, starting at around $85. Her reclaimed and embellished jackets, hodgepodge handbags and stylish dresses are all made with the same intention: “I design with my own needs in mind,” says Hoh. “Comfort, function, and looks are all important.”

Valerie Hoh will sell handmade products at her studio in Kenilworth November 13 and 14 from 11am-6pm. See more of her work at www.hohcouture.com.