After seven years immersed in the fashion industry, I discovered a growing trend in Vietnam: Kimono cardigans.
This traditional Japanese garment had captured the hearts of many, including my own. I embarked on a journey to create a distinctive line of kimono cardigans, blending traditional craftsmanship with innovative designs and quality.
In 2021, this vision came to fruition with the launch of 'Kimonista'—my very own boutique in Ho Chi Minh City. The name 'Kimonista' marries 'Kimono' with 'Fashionista', reflecting a fusion of cultural heritage and modern style.
Each morning was dedicated to visiting fabric producers, suppliers and markets ensuring that every piece in 'Kimonista' offered a one-of-a-kind experience.
Today my team is growing in Vietnam and we are four persons working together.
At twenty years old, I decided to discover the world and left South Korea.
After spending some time in California and Australia, I settled in Dubai and became a globetrotter for over twelve years by joining the aviation industry.
The pandemic forced me to hang up my wings.
At which point I move to France. I noticed numerous people fascinated by Asian cultures which inspired me to introduce them something unique from Asia.
This is when my business partner who was living in Vietnam introduced me to his friend Van.
I'm now taking care of Kimonista in Europe, don't hesitate to email me for any question that may arise.
We believe in sharing success fairly.
Which is why our three collaborators are remunerated above minimum wage plus bonuses based on the result of Kimonista, here in Vietnam.
By doing so, the team has remain the same since the first recruitment mid 2023. We strive to create a friendly atmosphere. We are slowly expanding and hope that throught our development in Europe, we will be able to grow our team while delighting you with Van's creations.
At Kimonista, we do everything we can to reduce our impact on the environment. First of all, our kimonos are timeless in opposition to fast fashion. The fabrics we use are durable, allowing you to keep your beloved kimono for a long time.
Regarding our CO2 emmissions, we ship our kimonos to France rolled together. They are packed individually in France with packaging issued from FSC forest. Our packages are made of recycled materials for most of them and are all recyclable. We although do our best to minimise the packaging through weight and volume.
All these steps allow us to have a reduced carbon footprint.