KAROLINA ZMARLAK - CREATIVE DIRECTOR, KZ_K STUDIO

IN 1992, AT THE AGE OF 10 AND AFTER THE FALL OF COMMUNISM, KAROLINA IMMIGRATED TO CHICAGO FROM POLAND, WINNING A CLINTON ENACTED GREENCARD LOTTERY. SHE STUDIED TAILORING AT THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, GRADUATING WITH HONORS IN 2007; WHILE A STUDENT, SHE WON THE GEN ART STYLES AWARD FOR EVENINGWEAR IN 2005. SHE COMPLETED LENGTHY INTERNSHIPS WITH THEORY AND CAROLINA HERRERA. AFTER WINNING GEN ART, SHE WAS APPOINTED HEAD DESIGNER FOR CASTLE STARR (2005-06). SHE BEGAN A PRIVATE CUSTOM BUSINESS PRIOR TO THE 2008 GREAT RECESSION, FOCUSING ON SPECIALTY CUSTOM PIECES, RESPONDING TO UNIQUE CLIENT PROGRAMMATIC SPECIFICATIONS. KAROLINA INFUSED HER TAILORING SPECIALIZATION, TECHNIQUE AND PARTICULAR MODERN MINIMALIST IDEALS INTO EACH PIECE.

THAT CONCEPT EVOLVED INTO THE EPONYMOUS KAROLINA ZMARLAK, A WOMEN’S READY-TO-WEAR COLLECTION WHEN (ALONG WITH HER PARTNER, JESSE KEYES, AN ARCHITECT BY TRAINING) ON JAN 1, 2009, THEY DEVISED A COLLECTION UNDERGIRDED BY THE MADE-TO-MEASURE ETHOS. EACH PIECE SHOULD EXHIBIT MULTI FUNCTIONALITY, TRANSLATING INTO REAL VALUE (COINCIDING WITH THE HEART OF THE RECESSION). BUSINESS OF FASHION PUBLISHED A COLLECTION REVIEW, ENTITLED “TRANSFORMATIONAL VALUE”. THE CONCEPT STOOD FOR CONVERTIBLE (REVERSIBLE, INTEGRATABLE, FORMABLE) DESIGNS OF TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED FABRICS, TO BE WORN VARIABLY DEPENDING ON ONE’S OWN LOOK, MOOD AND PURPOSE. 

IN 2014, THE BRAND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST RECIPIENTS OF NYC EDC’S FASHION PRODUCTION FUND, SUPPORTING MADE IN NYC FASHION MANUFACTURING. 

THE KAROLINA ZMARLAK COLLECTION WAS PRIMARILY SOLD THROUGH BOUTIQUES AND DEPARTMENT STORES (INCLUDING SAKS FIFTH AVE AND NEIMAN MARCUS- IN THEIR PREMIER DESIGNER CATEGORY). KAROLINA ZMARLAK WAS COVERED BY KEY INDUSTRY PRESS: VOGUE, REFINERY29, WWD, HARPER’S BAZAAR, BUSINESS OF FASHION AND OTHERS.

KAROLINA RELAUNCHED HER BRAND AS KZ_K STUDIO ON JANUARY 1, 2016, FOCUSING ON A SLOW FASHION, DIRECT-TO-CLIENT MODEL, WITH A DEDICATED AND ALWAYS EVOLVING DESIGN DISCIPLINE: MODERNIST MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY OF STYLIZED MINIMALISM. THE MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE DESIGN NARRATIVES AND COMMUNAL, ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCES HELD AT HER STUDIO (DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED BY JESSE) ON GREAT JONES STREET IN MANHATTAN TRANSLATE INTO CLIENT UNDERSTANDING, SURPRISE, OBJECTIVES AND LOYALTY.

WITH HER TEAM, KAROLINA CONCEIVES, DESIGNS, DEVELOPS, CAPTURES, COMMUNICATES, MANUFACTURES AND SHIPS ALL IN AND FROM NEW YORK CITY: A VERTICAL STUDIO BUSINESS MODEL. SHE HOSTS AT THE STUDIO AND TRAVELS EXTENSIVELY TO SELL EACH COLLECTION. KAROLINA MAINTAINS THOUGHTFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OVER 1,500 PRIVATE CLIENTS, 50 STYLIST PARTNERS, AND LIMITED LONG-TERM, DEDICATED BOUTIQUE RETAIL PARTNERS, SUCH AS TOOTSIES, MITCHELLS, AND OAK HALL.