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
When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career as a jewelry designer?
During the pandemic lockdown and while we were still working as architects, we tried to explore new skills and hobbies. Just by chance, we came across a silversmithing class. We have learnt from our master that traditional smithing is no longer appreciated by the majority and big companies for their slow productions. Meanwhile, we noticed a problem in the sophisticated skills developed by our masters, and that is the lack of dimensionality in jewelry developed and the limitation in achieving certain crazy forms with hands. We think that our strong 3D modeling skills might be a solution to revive the industry differently, and to connect the missing link between technology and traditional smithing. This is when we picked up jewelry design.
How important is your cultural background for your brand?
Growing up in Hong Kong, we have been surrounded by systematic infrastructure and almost-identical skyscrapers. We love our city and it is so well-planned, but to an extent that buildings exist to maximize usable floor space as their first priority – there is a lack of character in building’s form.
With this feeling towards our city, we base our idea on an organic and curvy form of architecture, Blobitecture, in which it serves as a reciprocal to Hong Kong skyscrapers. It manifests the freedom of space and the idea of architecture without limitation – this is what we want to speak through our accessories and home decor with our architectural mindset.
Who have been your biggest mentors in this industry and what is the best advice they have ever given you?
Since we come from a completely different industry, our silversmiths have become our biggest mentor during this journey. In a city where everyone is used to a fast-paced lifestyle, “handcrafted goods” is a contradictory term to ultra-dynamic economy and speed. This is however not true, according to what our silversmiths proved to us. Not only did they give us their biggest support from a technical perspective, their pursuit of quality regardless of time impressed us. We think their attitude and passion towards their job is the best advice for us to uphold the quality of our products despite the time and labor incurred.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
Don’t be scared of failing. You will fail way more than you expected, but so do the degree of transformation you will see.
What was your biggest fear when starting your own brand?
Our biggest fear was the lack of connection in this industry. Coming from the architectural industry, we had no connection with media, buyers nor stylists. In the first few months after the brand launch, we struggled a lot in building connections in order to gain some exposure for our brand. Witnessing appreciations from the jewelry and fashion industries are definitely turning our fear into motivation.
What do you want women to feel when wearing your jewelry?
“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.
Who would you most like to see wearing your jewelry?
Timothee Chalamet. As a female accessories brand, we are amazed by his flexibility, especially when we saw him dressed in Haider Ackermann. Such unisex presentation arouses our passion in start a male/unisex collection.
Name two icons you admire or you would like to collaborate.
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.
Do you have a most treasured item in your personal jewelry collection?
Dewdrops earring from our first collection. This is the first developed piece of our brand. I still remember the moment we saw the prototype coming to live, we looked at the 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.
A letter to your future self. What would you write?
Hello Dears,
Well done in your accomplishment so far! Remember to stay humble and be true even in the tricky world of business – this is the attitude people have been seeing in you and the reason they offer help.
Shop: https://kinks-lab.com
KINKS LAB AUTUMN/WINTER 2023 COLLECTION
KREEP. 