KA WA KEY

Hedonism, gender fluidity and soft masculinity are the key themes explored by the London-based brand KA WA KEY. The label is a collaboration between two creatives: Korean-born Ka Wa Key Chow, a graduate of the Royal College of Art, winner of the Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award (YDTA) and finalist of the H&M Design Award, and Finnish artist Jarno Leppanen who translates Key’s design language into poetic visuals, films and performance. KA WA KEY reimagines traditional textile crafts and reworks everyday streetwear like denim jackets, knitwear and hoodies using unique artisanal textures and fabrics. The brand has collaborated with Underground footwear and Eastpak bags. Key’s first collection was showcased at the ‘Double Je’ exhibition in Palais de Tokyo in Paris. Since then, the brand has shown in Paris, London and New York. It sells through The Alphabet showroom. Current stockists include Opening Ceremony (US), Verv and 50M (UK), WUT (Tokyo), Worksout (Korea) and others. kawakey.com