Rain Chan is the founder and creative director of Cahaya Studios, a lifestyle brand established in 2023. Cahaya Studios is built on a passion for texture, seamlessly merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Driven by a commitment to reviving the art of pleating, the brand offers seasonless, sculptural pieces that blend innovation with respect for heritage, across both ready-to-wear and homeware collections. With a focus on building a connection between humanity, architecture, and nature, each creation embodies a modern, conscious approach that celebrates the beauty of texture in today’s world.

01 THE MOMENT DESIGN CAPTURED YOUR HEART

I have so many moments of design in my life! If you want me to name one I guess it has to be this moment of me standing in front of Japanese architect Tadao Ando’s work - ‘Hills Of The Buddha’ in Sapporo, Japan. I was so inspired by Tadao’s architecture approach in timeless modernism but perfectly in harmony with nature's landscape. His vision of burying a buddha under a lavender field in a cemetery is very daring, futuristic but poetic. Buddha was covered in snow and it was so surreal and beautiful as if I was on a different planet.

02 A MEANINGFUL PIECE OF ART THAT RESONATES WITH YOU

‘Beauty’ by Olafur Eliasson in 1993. It is an installation that has to be set up in a darkened space, nozzles arranged in a row of spray - a curtain of fine mist from the ceiling into the bright beam of a spotlight. From certain perspectives, a rainbow can be seen in the falling water mist. I love how abstract, mysterious, minimal but extremely elegant. It’s a genius way of using natural elements such as light and water. Simplicity is the highest form of elegance!

03 SOURCES OF INSPIRATION IN YOUR CREATIVE JOURNEY

Natural elements like light, water, fire, earth. Sounds very cliche but the natural world often surprises me by its beauty - shapes, forms, textures and philosophies. Taste makers from different industries like art, architecture, film and music bring different inspirations into my life too.

04 WHAT DOES TEXTURE REPRESENT TO YOU?

Textures represent beauty and curiosity to me. I think they go hand in hand in my creative journey. I work with pleats a lot for Cahaya Studios, so I have this texture obsession that I can't help myself to feel it, touch it and experiment with it. In a way, texture has become a medium for self expression!

05 A WOMAN WHO INSPIRES YOU

Hong Kong film director Ann Hui. Her work is characterised by its realism, emotional depth and often exploring the theme of identity. Her resilience in film making inspired me very much. Dare to be different, sensitive and truthful.

06 A JEWELRY PIECE THAT HOLDS SIGNIFICANCE FOR YOU

A pendant that my mother gave me after I turned 21. It is a shape of a key and it symbolises  independence. 

07 THE MOST THOUGHTFUL GIFT YOU COULD RECEIVE

A hand-written letter, poem, drawing, music or a plant!

08 WHERE YOU DISCOVER BEAUTY IN YOUR DAILY LIFE

My morning tea ceremony ritual next to my flowers accompanied by soundscapes playlist on Spotify.

09 A CHILDHOOD MEMORY THAT BRINGS YOU HAPPINESS

My late grandfather used to catch red dragonflies for me and me playing outside surrounded by insects, dogs and trees.

10 DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL NIGHT IN

Home cooked comfort simple food, hot bath with face mask and a great film with Chrysanthemum tea!