Interior design brand KC aims to go global

Creativity takes courage, according to Henri Matisse, a famous French artist from the 1800s known for both his use of colour and fluid and original draughtsmanship.

This quote rings true for interior fashion designer Kawsar Chowdhury, also the managing director of Green Furniture, who has an unquenchable thirst for innovation and the use of cutting-edge technologies to make a range of home décor products.

Fastidious about minor details, passionate about design and with a keen interest in the juxtaposition of art and décor, Chowdhury has already won the hearts of the local clientele.

Now though, he has turned his sights to the international arena and aims to bring his products before the global audience through KC, a couture brand for home décor and interior design solutions.

"Many renowned architects from around the world used to send me their designs, which I would make. So all credit goes to those guys but still, I was the man behind the scenes with my innovative technology and manufacturing ability," Chowdhury told The Daily Star in a recent interview.

However, he soon found a distaste for simply producing the designs of others.

"I thought to myself: why not try to be like Giorgio Armani or any of the other legendary artists and build my own designs under my own brand name," he said.

With that in mind, Chowdhury established KC, named after his initials, one and a half years ago to bring the best and latest technologies and develop his designs in line with international standards.

KC is a trademark of Eco Wood, the brand's manufacturing hub which was established about 14 years ago in Kanchpur. It is a complete factory with over 120 workers.

"If there was no coronavirus pandemic this year, I would have already announced KC's first exports through an exhibition," Chowdhury added.

However, KC will only ship its products to select clients after locally manufacturing their customised orders.  This means that foreign buyers cannot retail the company's products under their own brands.

As an aesthete, Chowdhury is highly sensitive to the beauty in all things and believes that humans have a heightened sense of wellbeing when in the presence of something truly exquisite.

"I am passionate about creating exquisite homes and making bold statements. I take inspiration from my travels, from art, from fashion, from anything beautiful I come across." he said, adding that when defining a space, he keeps the client's vision in mind from the start.

"By using technology, I make what was impossible yesterday, possible today," Chowdhury said.

As a complete turnkey for custom interior designs, KC makes wall, floor, ceiling and door panels alongside kitchen cabinets, closets, various furniture and home automation facilities.

"I noticed on my travels to places such as the UAE that just the walls and ceilings at landmark hotels like the Burj Khalifa were enough to dictate a room's environment," the managing director added.

In a bid to attain similar results, Chowdhury and his team obsess over every detail, spending months on end to finish a project as they tirelessly strive for the unexpected.

KC offers three varieties for its kitchen units: classic, modern and double luxury.

Classic kitchen cabinets have a vintage American look and with a satin finish, they are a nostalgic throwback to his days studying in the US.

They are custom made using Italian technology and come in an elegant white.

"For modern-day kitchens, I pioneered the European high-gloss look 12 years ago and have innovative materials that can create seamless curves and designs to my heart's content," he said.

 Meanwhile, KC's doubly luxury kitchen cabinets are sandwiched units with both sides covered in an acrylic and special lamination coat for a sparkling finish.

All panels are framed with a sleek aluminium profile and clients can also order them with a custom pattern or textured finish.

"I was inspired by Italian kitchen styles and spent at least 3 months doing R&D before perfecting it for our clients, who want full protection in their kitchens," Chowdhury said.

Besides, the brand retails bathroom sinks, centre-piece pillars and colour changing bedroom cupboards as well.

"A much loved item is our custom design walk-in closet. A KC walk-in closet is the epitome of luxurious living. They are completely bespeaking in design, materials and finish while tailored to the customers taste," he added.

KC floor panels are made of oak, mahogany or teak. They come in matte, natural glossy wood or rough surface finishes and according to Chowdhury, these wooden floors are not just a thing of beauty, but are also scratch-proof and durable due to the special multi-layer coatings and finishing.

"We use premium down feathers of 700 Fill-Power. A-class raw materials and the rich and opulent overtones, make each piece a bold statement," he said.

Chowdhury has already designed 250 rooms of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka Hotel and many other sophisticated buildings, including the lobby of Le Méridien Dhaka, another five-star hotel in the capital.

His family used to make building materials. Later, when he returned after completing his study from the US in 1995, Chowdhury started manufacturing marble with a plant. About 14 years ago, he established the furniture and home décor brand: Green Furniture.

However, not everything has been on the up and up for the managing director.

When the coronavirus broke out in New York in February, several of his acquaintances, including some friends died of the disease.

"From then on, I started researching how the coronavirus spreads as I always strive to learn new things and for that I study, travel and do a lot of research," Chowdhury said.

In March, he was convinced that the coronavirus was airborne and that it was more powerful and fast spreading in enclosed areas.

"Since I work inside the building, I have extensive knowledge and experience of working with airflow and lightings," he added.

And so, he is now working on an innovative approach to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in confined spaces.

"I have given presentations to a few organisations and they have shown interest in my solutions. I am not doing this for profit, but rather on humanitarian grounds as I have lost some of my close ones during these hard times," Chowdhury said.

He also plans to introduce Far-UVC lights, which scientists believe would be a new tool to control the spread of Coronavirus.

A wavelength of ultraviolet light, known as far-UVC, can safely kill superbugs such as the coronavirus and influenza without penetrating people's skin, according to radiation scientist David Brenner, the director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University.

Chowdhury himself became infected back in May and after battling Covid-19 for over a month, during which he spent an extraordinary 12 days in the hospital, he recovered in late June.

Now, he regularly donates plasma to helping coronavirus patients that are undergoing treatment have a better chance at survival.

"My whole perspective on life has changed after my near death Covid-19 experience. So I am doing as much as possible to prevent its spread from my end," he said.