KTZ

Designer names: KTZ is a collaboration between Koji Maruyama, Sasko Bezovski and Marjan Pejoski.

Origin: Koji is Japanese. Sasko and Majan are both from Macedonia.

Design background: Marjan and Koji studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins while Sasa was studying architecture. They are the business minds that stand behind the retail network of cult stores ‘Kokon to Zai’, combinging music and fashion, based in London and Paris.

Career highlight: “Meeting and working with creative, talented people.”

Design signatures: “Strikingly graphic, not just in the sense of print - our designs are also very graphic in shape. Definitely youthful!”

What is your brand philosophy? “KTZ comes from Kokon To Zai, which loosely translates as ‘from here to then’. It's the journey, be it style or fashion. It should be the transgression or movement of the wearer’s feelings and ideas… Not the other way round.”

How would you describe your ideal client? “Forward, young, rebellious and definitely not boring!”
Trademark piece: “Our cords appliqué.”

Price range at retail: €50 - €650

Three spring/summer 2012 inspirations: “We love Africa; KTZ has always been about a tribe of people who think a little differently - we love the African expression of colour and the passion of the people. The spring/summer 2012 collection for KTZ is all about high-energy, bold pieces with colourful, tribal influences.”

What’s next for your brand? “We have lots of projects coming up but like to keep them under wraps until they’re ready for the world!
However, we are trying to steer KTZ towards being more of a lifestyle brand as opposed to just a fashion label. We aim to merge the gap between fashion, art, antiques etc.” 
 
Who are your design heroes? “The young, fresh talent that are not working towards commercial gain - their ideas are pure and their imaginations run wild!”
 
What’s your favourite cultural hotspot in the capital? “East London. The energy of the area that has emerged from a melting pot of different backgrounds and cultures has created a scene that is thriving with artists, designers and various other creative types.” 

In five years’ time we will be… “Further inspired from travels around the world to create more collections that have a story behind them."