Spotlight is a regular series where we feature a prominent person in the style scene. This month we speak with Key Chow and Jarno Leppanen, designer and founder of KA WA KEY.
Founded in 2015 by Royal College of Art graduate Key Chow, menswear label KA WA KEY’s design concept is all about showcasing soft masculinity and Asian male identity through the interplays of Eastern and Western aesthetics, as well as traditional textile crafts and the latest fashion technology. In 2017, the Hong Kong-born designer teamed up with Finnish artist Jarno Leppanen to enrich the label’s design language through various artistic media. Here, the London-based duo tell us about their brand and their SS2018 collection, ‘Fried Rice in the Closet.’
How did the two of you meet and start working together?
JL: We met while working on a project, which eventually led us to collaborate on the KA WA KEY SS17 presentation during London Men’s Fashion Week. Our aesthetic and ideas matched, so it felt quite natural to start working together.
For Key, how different is it to design by yourself versus doing so with Jarno?
KC: When I was working alone, sometimes it was quite difficult to find a solution to certain challenges by myself. Now, Jarno and I discuss most of the designs and bounce ideas off each other and solve problems together. I much prefer this collective design process.
Do you each have specific roles or responsibilities?
JL: Key’s main area is more on the technical aspects of design, while I focus more on PR, but everything is done together. Even though our aesthetics are very similar, there are always some differences in opinions and taste, which allows us to think about our ideas from a different perspective.
Where do you draw your inspirations?
KC: Our inspirations come from art exhibitions, live performances, music, movies, books, magazines, and things that we see, taste and smell on the streets of London, as well as during our travels. Designing is an inner conversation, but at the same time, it’s also a collective process for us. It’s like a living organism that never stops moving and evolving.
Tell us about the concept and inspiration behind your SS18 collection, ‘Fried Rice in the Closet.’ What does the title mean?
KC: ‘Fried rice’ is a Chinese slang for sex. The story behind this collection is about a young man who tries to hide his sexuality by dressing in sportswear to blend in, and the collection is a reflection of his dreams. The concept, however, goes beyond his sexuality; it’s about being true to oneself.
This is all translated with our interpretation on streetwear and sportswear with a strong focus on the choices of material. With fabric development and treatment being an essential part of our label’s DNA, we added our own twists to create a see-through and layering effect with our own house-made fabrics. The material is practical but light, and we used lots of soft colors as well. The silhouettes are based on classic sportswear and streetwear pieces like hoodies and jogging pants, and we also incorporated some traditional sportswear fabrics like nylon in our windbreakers.
How has the feedback of the brand been like in China?
JL: The feedback has been great. China is a great country to visit, seek inspiration and create as there are so many up-and-coming talents who are very experimental and fashion-forward, yet they still very much respect certain traditions.
What are you guys working on in the New Year?
KC: We are currently developing our AW18 collection, and we are going to be a part of the Men’s Fashion Weeks in Paris and London, as well as New York Fashion Week. We are also really hoping to show our AW18 collection at Shanghai Fashion Week’s Labelhood again in April.
For more Spotlight posts, click here. Find out more about KA WA KEY here.
0 User Comments