STAFF: Haru
instagram:haru_02018
Hello! It’s Haru, a fashion nerd!
As announced in yesterday’s blog,
today I am introducing the KHOKI denim set-up!
Actually, this piece was originally
supposed to arrive much earlier,
but because the production process is so complex,
it’s a true masterpiece that was delayed.
Let’s take a look.
KHOKI
-Hand-Embroidered Denim Coverall-
col.Indigo
col.Black
-Hand-Embroidered Denim Pants-
col.Indigo
col.Black
It feels almost like fate that it arrived during this pop-up.
It was one of the standout pieces
in the LOOKbook, and a highlight for this season.
It’s a design that reflects their love for
old clothes and vintage items,
and it is packed with incredible attention to detail!
In terms of design,
this item uses a coverall as its base,
and the pants are a perfect cut—
not too wide, not too slim—
but there is something that sets it apart from the rest.
That is the embroidery and the American quilt.
They didn’t just slap embroidery or quilting onto denim;
one wrong move could make it look cheap,
but thanks to the sensibilities of the KHOKI team,
honed on the front lines of various brands,
it transforms into pure personality.
This American quilting has become an icon for KHOKI,
and it is deeply rooted in their identity now,
but they say it was a real struggle to get to this point.
Though it’s called "American quilting,"
KHOKI intentionally chose to produce it in India.
Since there is no quilt culture in that country,
they had to build up the skills from scratch alongside the brand.
So why choose such a tedious process?
Because they wanted to spend the time
developing skills with the artisans from the ground up
to create an "expression that only KHOKI can achieve."
In an age where social media makes information flow easily
and imitations are on the rise,
I believe quality and the brand’s backstory are what matter most.
Seeking authentic fashion that doesn’t bend to the times,
they communicated directly on the ground in India,
and because they took the time to elevate their craft,
it resulted in a creation that no one can mimic.
That is why KHOKI’s
quilting doesn’t feel cheap,
and for us fashion lovers, we can sense that narrative
not just through words, but intuitively.
These quilt and embroidery designs are often
taken from things close to the design team’s heart,
and the inspiration for this piece is the "Memorial Jacket"
(which refers to the coveralls that graduates—
primarily from Princeton University in the 1930s-40s—
would use to collect signatures and drawings from each other
at graduation parties as a memento).
Isn't that just touching? lol
For example, there is a car quilt on the denim,
which is apparently based on the car at the director Koki’s parents' home lol
Beyond just the quilting and embroidery,
the stitching on the collars and hems
is all done by hand—that’s how dedicated they are.
By creating everything by hand, you can truly feel the human warmth,
which is likely why KHOKI has such a loyal fanbase.
Koki himself mentioned this, but
when the brand first started,
the average age of the design team was in their late twenties,
so there were many casual items.
However, as the brand grew and the team aged,
their tastes and worldviews changed,
adding more depth to their work.
It’s no surprise that KHOKI is loved not just by people my age,
but by adults as well.
Because the team at KHOKI is living through the same era,
grounding themselves in "current" fashion,
you can enjoy these items as modern pieces
that still carry a vintage soul.
I think you’ll grow to love KHOKI even more
if you learn not just about the surface design,
but the background behind it.
The "KHOKI POPUP STORE at sign," where you can dive deep into the world of KHOKI,
is happening until this weekend!
Don’t miss out on this precious opportunity!!
My Clothing Obsession Diary EP. 121
