HOW DID YOU GET HERE? FEATURING RE-MAKE BRAND TOKONIKOMU
If you follow me on instagram then it will be no suprise to hear that I’m a huge fan of remake denim, up-cycling and re-worked clothing. I love the creativity of taking an existing garment and re-purposing it into something new and experimental. I have a collection of remake garments in my wardrobe, some I’ve had made myself and others that I’ve collected over the years. When I stumbled across Tokonikomu I was super excited to learn that they re-work all their garments from vintage Levi’s jeans from the 80’s and 90’s.
The process of re-thinking, re-shaping and re-styling is applied to every piece, so all their garments are individual, unique and no two are exactly the same. For someone like me that has always liked to dress uniquely, rather than follow the crowd, I really love this concept. It also has added value to me, knowing that I’m buying a piece of vintage clothing that might otherwise have ended up in landfill!
NAME / Tokonikomu
OCCUPATION / Designer
LOCATION / Kharkiv, Ukraine
INSTAGRAM / @tokonikomu
WEBSITE / www.tokonikomu.com
Q: How did you start the brand and what inspired you to do this?
A: We worked for more than 10 years as buyers in the fashion industry. Denim was always very interesting for us. We worked with denim brands like KURO, Edwin, PRPS and Girbaud. At the same time, we were personalising denim and we opened a small showroom of denim for men. In the end we had such a large amount of direct experience in producing denim, we decided to start a brand for women.
Q: Do you have a background or formal education in fashion?
A: No we don’t have an education in fashion...(in engineering and architecture) but from working for 15 years in the industry, we have learned how to construct and sew garments.
Q: What is your favourite thing about denim?
A: It’s authenticity, simplicity and universality. Its capacity to change throughout time, taking on with every wear and wash a new look
Q: Talk us through your denim collection?
A: At the moment we are using a diversity of patchwork, mixed with different textures of denim and complex stitching.
Q: You use re-make denim and highlight the environmental and sustainability issues related to the fashion industry. What do you hope you achieve or change through this approach to design and production?
A: To show people that vintage is excellent and gives you a good conscience. To change people’s minds about consuming clothes.
Q: Where do you source your denim?
A: Our country is one of the biggest importers of used and second hand clothes, so we have no problems getting materials.
Q: Describe the process of design and production for a TOKONIKOMU garment?
A: We get an idea, get together material, vintage jeans, stitch it together and finish it off customising it by hand.
Q: What are some of your favourite eco-fashion brands right now?
A: We don’t have any favourites but we like Bethany Williams.
“Vintage is excellent and gives you a good conscience. To change people’s minds about consuming clothes“
Q: Favourite fashion trend?
A: Bucket hat ;)
Q: Who inspires you? In the fashion world and beyond
A: Brands like Margiela, Sacai, Girbaud.
Q: Give one piece of advice to a consumer / customer who wants to make more sustainable and eco-friendly fashion choices?
A: Don’t be afraid of vintage clothes; buy sustainable clothes and brands, have a look at what eco-materials are available.
Q: Where is your favourite place to shop?
A: Second hand, stock shops and on the internet.
Q: What was the last purchase you made?
A: Some amazing unique vintage bags and rucksacks from the Austrian Army.
Q: What is a good book on your coffee table right now?
A: Girbaud’s book on vintage denim.
Q: Favourite drink?
A: Japanese whisky.
Q: Favourite city?
A: Tokyo.
Q: Tell us about your new collection?
A: Introducing new materials into things made of denim. Adding new models to create a new look.
Q: What is next for TOKONIKOMU?
A: Launching a men’s line & collaborating with a sustainable furniture brand.
‘TOKONIKOMU is an intelligent fashion.
This is sustainable fashion’
TOKONIKOMU