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= KIMHĒKIM = KIMHĒKIM is a fashion brand founded by Kiminte Kimhekim in 2014. In 2019, it was appointed as a member of the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. KIMHĒKIM is the full last name of the ancient royal family in Korea. It symbolizes the era of the golden kingdom. The brand represents the Korean heritage while interpreting it in modern forms. It also represents the profile of present-day women. In 2021, i-D France named KIMHĒKIM as one of the noticeable young brands in Paris Fashion Week.

The key elements of its design approach include tailoring and essential details that create couture-level craftsmanship. The garments carry minimalist forms which enrich with maximalist details like giant ribbons, signature prints, and unusual tailoring methods. The brand is well known for creating garments with delicate fabrics, such as silk and organza.

KIMHĒKIM is stocked internationally at SSENSE, H Lorenzo, Lane Crawford, and more. The pieces of the brand are worn by many celebrities and are covered in numerous magazines.

History
In 2014, KIMHĒKIM debuted its first couture collection in a flower shop during Paris Womenswear Fashion Week. In 2019, Kiminte Kimhēkim, the creative director and the founder of KIMHĒKIM, was appointed as a member of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. From Spring-Summer 2020 season, the brand presents its collections during the Paris Fashion Week official schedule.

Kiminte Kimhēkim
Kiminte Kimhēkim was born and raised in South Korea, surrounded by its cultural heritage. He spent his childhood dressing up dolls in Korean traditional clothes with his grandmother, who taught him traditional sewing skills. As a young child, he wondered if he can build his career by it and realized that it was what fashion designers do.

After his childhood in South Korea, he headed to Paris to study fashion. He graduated from Studio Berçot in 2009 and straight after worked for Nicholas Ghesquière, then creative director of Balenciaga. He worked there for four seasons, crossing between the studio and the atelier where he learned the importance of the artisanal approach and attitude. This encounter profoundly influenced him in defining the house of KIMHĒKIM.

He debuted his first KIMHĒKIM couture collection during Spring-Summer 2014 Paris Womenswear Fashion Week. In 2019, he was appointed as the youngest Korean member of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. From Spring-Summer 2020 season, he presents his collections during the Paris Fashion Week official schedule.

Headquarter / Showroom
KIMHĒKIM is currently based in Seoul. The first flagship store of the brand is located in Jongno-gu, nearby Gyeongbokgung, the main palace of the Joseun Dynasty. The store is built in collaboration with artist Mun, Seungji. In November 2022, the second flagship store is planned to be opened in Cheongdam-dong, the core district for fashion and luxury in Korea.

Obsession Series
From Pre-Spring 2022, KIMHĒKIM started its new series of collections, called Obsession. The series is KIMHĒKIM’s creative director, Kiminte Kimhekim’s obsession towards the aesthetic unfolded into fashion. The first collection under the series was Obsession Nº1, Rose et Cuir.

[PS22, Obsession Nº1 : Rose et Cuir]
The inspiration for the season’s main theme, “black rose and leather’ came from the perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena’s new perfume, Rose & Cuir, as well as the tailoring from the early 2000s. The collection is about how women wearing the perfume would dress, reflecting its elegant yet minimal scent. OBSESSION N°1 itself is a portrayal of the perfume, as it consists of ready-to-wear items with couture elegance.

[SS22, Obsession Nº2 : Women in Canvas]
In many of Kimhekim’s lookbooks, the backside of the canvases is used as the background, reflecting how Kimhekim women live inside art. This season unfolds the story of Kimhekim’s mysterious muse in canvas. The poetic feeling when you visit an artist’s atelier is interpreted through details such as ornamented buttons, canvas printed silk, and perforation which reminds the frame of the artwork.

[PF22, Obsession Nº3 : Bow Universe]
Kiminte believed that making bows was one of the most primitive ways people decorated themselves. He focused on developing this idea by experimenting with bows in various materials like crin mesh, metal chains, denim, down, and houndstooth. Also, the inspiration from Korean traditional cultures such as celadons, Hanbok, and royal palaces enriches the collection by imposing couture elegance.

[FW22, Obsession Nº4 : Hair Chronicles]
Kiminte’s love for hair started with his childhood memory of playing with his cousin’s hair was expressed by experimenting with different hair colors and textures. It showcases the natural and timeless beauty found in most authentic selves through the playful study on hair. The FW22 Paris Fashion Week digital runway portrays the process of creating the collection.

[PS23, Obsession Nº5 : Denim Love]
The inspiration behind this collection spiraled from the interest in denim pieces. The pieces for this series were made by deconstructing and reassembling numerous denim pieces discovered in different vintage shops at Dongmyo (located north of Seoul), coupled with the idea of a mega-oversized look.