I was born in Seoul (South Korea) and my family has some Japanese roots, but I’m pretty much a full-fledged New Yorker at this point. My fashion brand Kaimin is based on the Lower East Side and I love working with all different kinds of artists here in the United States and around the globe.

As a kid, I was pretty shy and quiet rather than rebellious and often didn’t feel like I quite fit in. Asian societies in general, and South Korea in particular, are historically homogeneous and there is this overpowering behavioral similarity – culture similarity, generation similarity. Deviation from the norm is rare and is almost frowned upon, although things are changing now. I always felt the need to be different and not to adhere to some social barometer, which I couldn’t relate to. I think this shaped my aesthetic and fueled my curiosity.
I had a chance fairly early on to visit New York City to work with some talented people here and, with this glimpse of the creative and cultural kaleidoscope, I knew I wanted to live here someday. After a few more trips, I moved here permanently. New York is definitely one of the best places for progressive ideas – there is enough room here for all.

I’ve always had a strong desire to explore and have tried expressing myself via several different mediums through the years, including illustration, set design, creative direction, styling, conceptual art, and even some theatre and performance art. Another fun expedition came about a few years ago when I had the pleasure of recording a couple of experimental songs with Gavin Rayna Russom of LCD Soundsystem, who also performed a killer live synth set at one of my recent runway shows.
It’s always very exciting for me to work with other like-minded artists to create something grand together, and, at some point, this format became formalized under the umbrella of what we call the Zero Zero Project, a travelling conceptual art exhibition and publication. Actually, my initial foray into clothing design actually came with Zero Zero Vol. 02, titled Them/Her. It featured stylist Nicola Formichetti, photographer Miles Aldridge, and me as a model. It was presented as a multi-sensory, high-tech video pop-up exhibition, with an installation by Snarkitecture, in the Meatpacking district of Manhattan during New York Fashion Week.
We had the honor of presenting the Vol. 02 book at my beloved Paris store, Colette. I also created a stand-alone clothing collection for the female character and the Korean designer Juun.J created the pieces for the male characters. This was the genesis for the Kaimin label, which I started a couple of years after.

I think it’s a matter of taste and it can be a very fine line indeed, but these two words do mean very different things, so it just has to be very clear which one is the goal. Clearly, fetishes are an easy attention-grabber, a vehicle to advance a message, and in today’s short-attention-span, sensory-overloaded world it’s become more frequently used. A metaphor. Then, because there’s so much cross-over now, a lot of the strong, standalone elements get diluted and this convergence has left very few things taboo.
If talking strictly art, I love fetishist imagery because there’s a certain element of mystique and instinctual rawness. If done tastefully with a clear aim, be it representing empowerment or something else, I think it’s ok to blur lines. People will always debate what’s excessive.

I’ve always been fascinated by what the distant future holds and what mind-bending innovations will come around. We’re already living in today so it’s a lot more fun to design for tomorrow, that’s why pretty much every piece of clothing I’ve ever made is permeated with this theme of exploring the looming possibilities. I’d like to think that the future will bring abundance and innovation not just in the material sense but also in our culture and thinking, where humans will finally reach total equilibrium with nature and each other – no prejudices –, and Kaimin clothing is but one way to represent this future.
Using innovative materials and production techniques is therefore important for both achieving the futuristic effect I strive for and for helping to push progress and validating applications of new technologies. We also feel it’s important to consider the environment so we try to do our part by using many recycled, sustainable, and organic materials.

This collection explores archetypes of future beauty and is heavily influenced by such films as Blade Runner and Ex-Machina, specifically their protagonists – androids and cyborgs. I’m a total believer in the eventual symbiosis of man and machine. Think of my futuristic designs as coming from more of a prism than a crystal ball. In large part, this collection is about defeating the mundane and exploring and strengthening that which sets one apart, no matter the era. If today’s fever pitch around privacy, sexual correctness, censorship, etc. ever leads to a dystopian control of self-expression, I’d want my clothes to declare: when the extraordinary is outlawed, only the outlaws will be extraordinary.
Regarding predictions, with sexuality’s taboo status eroding ever-faster and science closing in on the Matrix, your extrapolation may not be too far off… Hopefully, it’s more of the revealing and sculptural and less of the subservient!

My designs aren’t consciously or directly influenced by club kid culture but rather allude to and advocate the celebrated ideals I believe underpin this movement. These ideals are also part of the Kaimin brand DNA, specifically individuality, self-confidence and self-expression as well as boundless inclusivity.
 This creativity and uniqueness, being true to oneself, is paramount. Whether it’s found in the club kids or anyone else, it commands respect immediately, be it in New York City or anywhere else in the world. This is what we strive to reflect when casting for our runway shows and campaigns with strong personalities like various artists, musicians, and influencers. It all comes together because their stories align with Kaimin’s values in some way.

I think characterization is inherently contentious and in trying to break out from under existing labels we only seem to be creating more new ones. My wish is to empower and provide a sense of occasion to whoever wears my pieces, irrespective of their character, body figure, skin color, and gender.

Absolutely. Kaimin will continue to further integrate technology into its garments and content and we’ll keep pushing boundaries with artists across different realms. We have a few surprises in store that should delight our community very soon!