As we have been doing for the past few weeks, we interview the brands we sell in our shop. Today we had the opportunity to talk to the director about the innovative Korean brand: KAPPY DESIGN.
Can you explain the creation of your brand in 2020? Did you create it during the pandemic?
Yes, we created KAPPY DESIGN during the pandemic. Creating a brand has been a dream since I was young. After graduating from university, I worked as an overseas sales manager for a company that makes leather goods. I thought I would be stable and happy for the rest of my life if I worked for a company like this, because it was doing well.
But suddenly the Corona virus spread all over the world and the world stopped. As an overseas sales representative, I was fired from the company, and I felt so futile to be fired from the company I had worked hard for for many years.
But rather than being frustrated, I decided to create my own brand, which was my childhood dream, before it was too late. I proposed to a friend with good taste to do something nice together, and that was KAPPY DESIGN.
We started at an unstable time, so there was a lot of trial and error, but we steadily developed our brand at our own pace. KAPPY DESIGN was my challenge and my new start.
When preparing for the interview, a general opinion emerged. The quality of the materials is impressive. Is it a difficult challenge to create such quality?
Our collection is simple and based on good washing, sewing and dyeing. If it is not based on quality, a minimal design is nothing. That’s why we focus on quality. Our products are simple, true to the essentials and focus on the “essence” of the material.
We strive for a minimalist design that makes the most of the material’s characteristics. As this is a product that is easily accessible to everyone, I felt that the fabric and the completeness of the product were very important.
The emphasis is on using durable, lightweight fabrics that are comfortable to wear everywhere in everyday life and outdoors.
We believe that a large number of tested samples results in good quality. And that makes sense.
Where did you get the idea to create a one-size-fits-all clothing brand?
Instead of indiscriminate mass production and size- and gender-specific consumption, I wanted to make a good product that you can keep in your wardrobe for a long time.
I thought comfort was the most important thing to make clothes that I could wear every day and on special days. A product that can be worn by the whole family and can be worn consistently even if the body shape changes suddenly.
Our collection is comfortable to wear at any time, regardless of gender or body shape, and has a relaxed silhouette. Many customers still wonder if our products will fit them well.
However, when they wear them, they are very satisfied with the comfort. I think there will be more and more customers who will understand and sympathise with our values.
Where did you get the idea to create a unisex brand?
Although I am a woman, I have always liked to wear unisex clothes from a young age, rather than women’s clothes. However, even if they say they are unisex, they seem too big or too wild for me. With Kappy Design, I want to offer practical and comfortable clothes regardless of gender or body type.
We are women, but before we started a unisex collection, we used to wear men’s clothes more than women’s clothes, which are usually defined by society. This is because they are comfortable, strong and large, which makes the work easier.
Men’s clothing was produced on the assumption that ‘the wearer was a very active person’, while women’s clothing was relatively impractical and inconvenient. I didn’t categorise or define the clothes by gender, I just wanted to make comfortable clothes with strong materials and a relaxed fit.
Our goal is to become a comfortable brand where everyone can choose our collection without worrying when they open their wardrobe.
What is the meaning of your sun symbol?
It means beginning, beginning of the day, beginning of a new life. It means a new beginning for something. We created Kappy Design during the pandemic. It was our challenge and the beginning of a new life.
Also, “SUN” doesn’t change with time and lights everyone the same, no matter who they are. I thought our ultimate goal was similar to the sun.
Clothes that can be worn for a long time and that can be worn together, regardless of gender or body type. That’s why we chose the sun as our symbol.
In what style do you define your brand?
We are very inspired by nature. Our aim is to be halfway between everyday clothing and outerwear. We love nature and travelling and prefer comfortable clothes.
At weekends I always wanted to be in nature, but I always wondered if I should buy outdoor clothes and clothes that I would normally wear in the city. I thought all outdoor clothes were too hard or too tough.
With softer design and colours, you can wear them comfortably in any space. If you love outdoor activities, but enjoy a softer, more comfortable vibe like we do, you might like clothes that straddle the line between outdoor and everyday wear, and that’s how the brand came about.
What values do you want to communicate?
The ordinary is the most valuable. Rather than doing something special and big every day, I think it makes life positive and enjoyable to value it and fill it with value.
We support everyone doing their best in their place. We always want to be a comfortable and friendly brand.
We have really enjoyed your brand, the quality of your clothes and your world, what are your ambitions for the next two years?
Kappy Design is a 4 year brand this year, starting in 2020. Today, in Seoul, I sometimes see customers wearing our collection on the street. We hope that our collection will reach people of more diverse ages and occupations and become a brand that they will share in their daily lives.
My goal is to meet more people wearing our collection (haha). The same goes for the foreign market.
We hope to be presented on different channels where we can discover our collection, which means we are on the right track!
Team’s opinion
With the aim of moving towards quality brands and clothing, Kappy Design fits perfectly into our expectations and criteria.
We are convinced that consumers will gradually turn to better quality products that are actually produced in limited quantities.
The consumer is starting to buy less but better quality.
We are also more and more fans of GORPCORE and Japanese and Korean brands. We are influenced by this trend, which we particularly appreciate.
Crédit photo: KAPPY DESIGN
