Founded in 2019, the Japanese brand KHOKI has recently been selected for Fashion Asia’s 10 Asian Designers to Keep an Eye On. Although the brand is now six years old, we have never truly seen the face of its founder. Even when they were nominated for the LVMH Prize last year, it wasn’t until the competition required it that the founder’s name, Koki Abe, was officially revealed. However, the photographs from the competition still featured a masked representation that wasn’t the true founder. Prior to the LVMH Prize, the brand had never participated in any interviews, and even now, there’s very little detailed background information or interviews available about the brand. We were lucky enough to have an email interview with founder Koki Abe, who shared insights about the brand’s background and offered some advice for young designers.
Since its inception, KHOKI has maintained a low profile. While most brands today focus on highlighting their designers, KHOKI insists on not glorifying individualism, letting their work speak for itself and using design and craftsmanship to win over fashion editors and buyers. Koki Abe explains that KHOKI is a collaborative effort from the entire team, including directors, planners, pattern makers, sales, and PR, all contributing to the design process. This collective creativity brings a diverse approach to the brand, steering clear of overly commercial vibes, while embracing a variety of styles. The result is a stunning visual impact through eclectic combinations, without sacrificing practicality when each piece is examined individually.
As an emerging brand, KHOKI thrives on the warmth of handcrafted artistry. Founded by Koki Abe, an alumnus of an art university, the creative background spans various disciplines including visual arts, music, and crafts, resulting in a distinctive personal aesthetic. Deeply influenced by traditional craftsmanship, the brand draws inspiration from Japanese embroidery, meticulous needlework, folk art, and what Koki Abe considers the hallmark of the brand—American quilt artistry. Each season introduces fresh interpretations that modernize these classic elements.
