Kinks Lab is a Hong Kong designer accessories label founded in 2021. We believe that females should be able to express their strong aesthetic views. Through our experimental and bold statement accessories, we aim to challenge the definition of wearability, and enhance the user’s experience – from accessorizing differently to triggering dialogues among people.
THE DESIGNERS
Coming from the architectural industry, Andrea and Sam think the user’s experience is the most crucial part among all designs – from large-scale buildings to small-scale accessories. Through the accessories created, we aim to challenge the definition of wearability, and enhance the user’s experience beyond accessorizing outfits.Taking advantage of our knowledge in 3D modeling, we adopt goldsmithing as a methodology in production. With injection of technology, our design philosophy is to prove that technology impacts culture – positively. Discover more HERE !
THE STORY
We base our idea on a unique form of architecture, Blobitecture, in which its organic forms and curvy shapes manifest the freedom of space. It represents a medium without limitation and serves as a reciprocal to Hong Kong skyscrapers. Through 3d modeling and production by traditional goldsmithing, we create innovative solutions in enhancing three-dimensionality in our accessories while bridging the missing link between technology and traditional craftsmanship.
– Andrea + Sam, founders of KINKS LAB
THE INTERVIEW
Tell us about yourself as creative, including what art means for you as a jewelry designer.
We are Andrea and Sam, co-founders of a jewelry brand from Hong Kong. We were architects before starting our jewelry business in 2021. Us as jewelry designers, we try to explore the possibilities in combining art with fashion and design creative wearable art. We think that jewelry being solely treated as an art piece would lose its meaning as an “body” art. The key difference between art and jewelry is that jewelry shall embrace different body parts to become a wearable art. We try to design wearable arts that embrace body parts differently and enhance the user’s experience – something interesting to look at, and people may wonder if that is a ring or an earring – we define that as a creative wearable art.
Tell us about your design style. What makes your collections unique in the industry?
We design contemporary, experimental and bold accessories. Given the past years of immersion in the architectural field, we create innovative solutions in enhancing three-dimensionality in our accessories while bridging the missing link between technology and traditional craftsmanship.
For each collection we launched, we begin by thinking about the potential of integration between certain architectural elements and accessories. For example, Seen | Unseen:
… collection we launched in early 2022 conveys contrasting architectural relations, transparency and solidity, with our signature blob form. With treatment of natural light by different materials, this collection brings forth the ultimate expression of form and craftsmanship through reflection and distortion.
What kind of person wears your jewelry?
We target females with strong aesthetic views. “We believe that females should be able to express their strong aesthetic views. Through our experimental and bold statement accessories, we aim to challenge the definition of wearability, and enhance the user’s experience – from accessorizing differently to triggering dialogues among people. ” – This is our brand vision that we have been promoting.
As a designer, where do you draw your inspiration from?
City and space, form versus structure, functionality versus ornamentation. Juxtaposing themes inspire us. In the architectural world, we always start designing with the context of the site in mind, including the factors that would impact the building’s design. When we find inspiration for our accessories, we always start from our surroundings and different spaces. Besides that, we are fascinated by surreal, utopian landscapes. We have, in particular, been referencing our designs from Blobitecture, which does not merely represent a style or form, but a non-tangible, experimental spirit. This is where we derived our crazier designs from.
What’s it like to see someone on the street wearing one of your creations?
Inspiring. For most of our designs, we picked on its form or details to create an indifferent wearing experience. Sometimes we see different ways to wear our product interestingly. We believe there is no definite way to wear any accessories or outfits. We are happy to see different people expressing their strong aesthetic views through our experimental and bold statement accessories their own way.
What is the biggest challenge in creating long-lasting pieces?
We think creating a long-lasting piece requires close coordination between design and technical perspectives. Designing timeless but experimental pieces that suit our branding could sometimes be challenging as they might be too crazy for our silversmiths to execute. Our biggest challenge is to compromise between design and execution, and finding the perfect spot that will attract our audiences while lasting long.
How important is technology for your jewelry brand?
It takes up a significant part of Kinks Lab. This question leads to the origin of our brand’s name. “Kinks” represents the imperfect replications by traditional craftsmanship, and “Lab” represents a channel to convey experimental arts with technology. Without technology, the experimental DNA of our brand will greatly diminish and I think you will longer see the complete picture of Kinks Lab.
Who are your favorite creatives you would like to collaborate with?
John Galliano and Yohji Yamamoto are the two icons we admire a lot. As an asian designer in early 90s, Yohji was a pioneer that made it to Paris Fashion week and showcased menswear for women while haute couture were on trend at that period of time.Galliano is the real artist that truly defines what wearable art is – his experimental and deconstructive spirits always surprise us.
They both stay true to their belief and convince people with their works instead of putting out commercial pieces to please the majority. We constantly remind ourselves with such belief and move forward with the design values we own.
What advice would you give to someone interested in getting into the jewelry design business?
As long as you are passionate about creating jewelry, we recommend you to start a business now. You don’t need to master the process nor completing a marketing course to start a business. The hardest thing to replicate by others is not a beautiful concept, but failure. So keep failing and persevere, that is what makes your brand unique.
What is your favorite piece you’ve ever created – and what made it so special?
Dewdrops earring from our first collection. This is the first developed piece of our brand but still my favorite because of the meaning it carries. I still remember the moment we saw the prototype coming to life, we looked at each other, knowing that this was the form we would keep developing from. We are still working on the “blob” form, but with variations, such as textures, digitized ornaments and mutation of ordinary objects with the idea of blob form.
Shop: https://kinks-lab.com
KINKS LAB AUTUMN/WINTER 2023 COLLECTION
33 MAGAZINE 