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For Oak Cliff-based fashion designer Ni COle MusselMaN, it was a trip to Bangkok that changed the course of her life. The delicate fabrics and unique, unstructured handbags she saw there set into motion a fashion whirlwind that began with designing bags for friends and culminated with the launch of Koch, Musselman’s clothing line that is now carried worldwide. We recently caught up with this globetrotting fashionista to see what’s inspiring her now.

Where are you originally from?

I’m from California, but I went to high school in Ohio. When I came to Dallas for SMU, I loved it, but I thought to myself, “Can this weather be healthy?” But, I love the people, and I want to stay here.

How did Koch get its start?

Koch [Musselman’s mother’s maiden name] started when I returned from my trip to Bangkok and wanted to recreate the unstructured handbags everyone would carry in the markets. I began making accessories, small leather goods and hand-printed textiles, and it just took off from there. I asked a lot of questions to my friends in manufacturing, and Koch was born. It’s all about pushing forward and persevering.

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