Who doesn’t love a size inclusive gender neutral fashion brand?! Kazuki Workshop wants everyone who wears her clothing to feel like their authentic selves without all the drama. This New York City based brand does all its manufacturing in NYC as it tries to stay as sustainable as possible. Please read on to learn more about Kazuki, her Workshop, and her next fashion brand Wings of Color.

Where are you based?
My studio is based and the collection is made in NYC.

Could you tell us a little bit about Kazuki Workshop? What gave you the idea to create Kazuki Workshop?
At this point in my life, after working for other brands for the past 27 years, I am feeling the need to really see and share myself – my aesthetic preference, my want for fairness even in a trivial area like clothing, and my heritage and experiences. I wanted to create Kazuki Workshop to give people like me a brand that makes them feel seen and offers comfort and a place of belonging. Those who wear my brand are all an extension of my family and tribe. I also thought it was very important to keep the manufacturing process as sustainable as possible through our working with certified eco-friendly fabrics, and producing on demand in NYC.

How did you come up with a size range that accommodated people of all identities?
I used my experience in women’s size expansion and expanded it to include people of different sexes and genders. Unisex clothing doesn’t work. Those pieces fit no one well. I am working to make my brand’s clothing look flattering on people, no matter their sex and gender by actually separating the sizes into 2 tracks based on their biological sex and bone structure. I believe this is not a common practice, and it takes extra time and resources. The sweater top and pant development we just launched took a whole year when I thought it would have been ready in 4 months. I would like to think that all the thoughts and efforts that go into Kazuki Workshop help us stand out a bit.

What inspired you to keep your line gender-neutral?
I always scoffed at the idea of “boy” and “girl” clothes. You should wear what you want. I’ve had my guy friends wear the same dress I own, but as a cool tunic or whatever, and I wanted that for my collection - but with a focus on fit for both biological body types.

When someone wears one of your creations, what message do you hope they take away from it?
That looking put together and being comfortable aren’t always mutually exclusive, and that you can go outside of convention and not look like you are wearing a costume.

We noted how you incorporate elements of your Japanese background into your branding. Could you explain the meaning behind your logo?
I wanted to incorporate my culture and heritage into the brand. One way I did so was by using my family crest as the dominant motif in the logo. My crest is a reverse-crossed eagle feather inside a circle, and I place that near the neck on the back of each garment. This was inspired by the Japanese tradition of formal Kimonos, and it signifies that all who wear Kazuki Workshop are part of my tribe. I also had my childhood friend in Japan turn one of my favorite proverbs into a calligraphy motif that I used on my sweaters, “天衣無縫”. The proverb translates to “Heaven’s cloth has no stitches,” which I thought was a bit tongue-in-cheek flex fun to put on clothing. The proverb came from a fantastical short story written during the Tang Dynasty in China and describes items that are so perfect you don’t see human hands on them. It also applies to a person’s character and I aspire to be the kind of person this proverb fits, someone who is genuine.

What difficulties did you encounter when developing your products?
I have another company, KEDIC Workshop that I started about six years ago. I help brands with
design, manufacturing, and production, and specifically serve as the liaison for brands wanting to be more size-inclusive, providing support to expand the size offering while ensuring the garments are scaled and fit plus-size bodies properly. Trying to start my new brand while simultaneously running my company with clients and their projects has been really hard. I always put my clients’ projects before my own, and that kept delaying the launch of my brand.

When you're coming up with concepts for new products what serves as the source of inspiration?
Everything inspires me. Music, a phrase that catches my eyes on an advertisement I walk by, dance, what I see when I go hiking with my kid, movies, the way someone’s coat flutters in the wind as I cross the street... I just have to pay attention.

We love that your brand is produced in NYC using sustainable fabrics. Why was this a priority for you?
I believe we all need to do what we can to keep the earth livable for our kids and grandkids. Not one person can do everything, but each of us can do just a little bit. My operation is by no means entirely sustainable, but I wanted to be as mindful as I can and make the most sustainable choices.

We admire how your brand embodies inclusivity and sustainability. Why is it crucial to you that your brand embodies these ideals?
I despise injustice. For anyone. Some might argue that fashion is an unimportant, frivolous thing, but I can’t stand the fact that not all of us are treated equally as potential consumers. I want everyone to have the same level of access to things, including clothing. And I operate in the clothing business, so that’s where I can contribute.

As we are becoming accustomed to not seeing gender as a binary, fixed thing, I am thrilled to see how some retailers are pushing to have “men’s” and “women’s” departments crossover. I’ve had male friends getting kicked out of women’s clothing stores wanting to try on their clothes, and that seems to be fast becoming a thing of the past. If Kazuki Workshop’s approach to gender inclusivity isn’t seen as an outlier, and would make me really happy. Size-inclusivity conversation, too, has been going on for several years now, and many brands at least acknowledge its importance, even if they haven’t included the plus size range in their offerings. I believe my brand will not be a minority in being size-inclusive much longer, thanks to the strong voices demanding more options in the plus size range. I’ve been told you can’t make a social statement while trying to run a small business. I believe that person is wrong and what we are seeing is the proof.

What are Kazuki Workshop's plans for the future?
Plans? I am not smart enough to have plans. I can die tomorrow. I just want Kazuki Workshop to survive and be the place for people who chose to be a part of my tribe.

What excites you the most about working on your brand?
What excites me about working on Kazuki Workshop is the vision of people who look and live differently all liking how they look in the mirror, wearing our clothing.

What are your hopes for the fashion industry? Do you feel we are moving in a more sustainable direction?
I believe the fashion industry is trying to move toward a more sustainable direction. And the younger generations’ voices are powering that move. Some major brands seem to actually care about the impact our industry has on the environment, and some I am sure are looking at the cultural temperature that would lead to their bottom line.

What tips would you provide to aspiring fashion designers?
I would suggest that aspiring fashion designers care and be thoughtful about everything they do. And to really study and learn from people who have been around, then tweak things to make it better. You can’t make things you don’t know better.

Do you have any intriguing new projects you've been working on?
As no one is one-dimensional in any area, I also don’t just stick to the aesthetic I am crystalizing in Kazuki Workshop. I am currently working on launching another brand, Wings of Color, that reflects the opposite side of me in my fashion aesthetic spectrum. It is a size-inclusive women’s brand full of colors and prints that the near-eastern musician side of me loves.

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
I have been doing what I can with running and dancing to keep up the endorphin level, connecting with friends even while social distancing, bonding with my 14-year-old daughter over Kpop, working on music with friends remotely and social distancing... I guess community. Appreciating and strengthening the bond within my community, my tribe, has been a tremendous help in the past few years.

What is your motto in life?
Leave the world better than you found it.

To learn more about Kazuki and her Workshop, please follow the links below:
www.kazukiworkshop.com
Instagram: kazukiworkshop

Images courtesy of Kazuki Workshop.

Kazuki Workshop Is Heaven Made