17 Mar

An Exclusive Interview with Kobi Halperin: A Decade of Creativity and Inspiration

Kobi Halperin, renowned for his profound appreciation of craftsmanship and artistic vision, has established a legacy connecting historical influences with modern fashion. This year marks the 10th anniversary of his brand, a significant milestone in the designer’s career. In this exclusive interview, Halperin discusses his creative process, industry trends, and striking a balance between artistry and commercial success.

Your brand is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. How did your brand’s past and modern trends, such as vintage and retro, influence the creation of the new collection? Have you looked to the archives for inspiration?

For me, it’s not really about going back to the archive. I feel that I feel very lucky as a designer to have my own treasure box from my childhood, from the memories of my family’s home, and they have always a source of inspiration there. Adding to that, I always love the idea of like either seeing relevant art exhibitions or traveling.

In this case, I was lucky to travel to India and this inspiration was phenomenal.

Fashion often moves in cycles, bringing back trends from past decades. Today, we see early 2000s influences, including blue tones, sports shoes, and denim. How do you perceive such comebacks?

Kobi Halperin : I don’t approach fashion with a focus on trends. My goal has always been to create clothing that makes women feel beautiful, confident, and celebrated. While I acknowledge the return of past styles, I see my role as bringing forward the artistry and craftsmanship of earlier eras in a modern way. I cherish the detailed workmanship I remember from my grandmother’s sewing, from the careful selection of fabrics to the intricate embroidery. My aim is to incorporate these elements into contemporary fashion while maintaining authenticity.

What is your main source of inspiration when creating new collections? How do you balance personal creative impulses with audience expectations?

Travel and art remain my greatest sources of inspiration. However, designing is also about maintaining a relationship with my audience. I want my customers to feel understood and valued. They should always know what to expect from my brand while also experiencing moments of surprise through new silhouettes, fabrics, and details. Striking this balance is essential for maintaining a strong brand identity.

And how do you balance your inner impulses in your audience’s expectations?

And I think regarding the audience, I think the most important thing is to kind of like, making her comfort in the sense of like, you never want to make her feel that you moved on and you don’t love her anymore. It is about a relationship. So. So for me, I always feel like she knows what to expect from me, she knows what to expect from the collection, and I always like to surprise her a little bit.

And surprising is done by introducing some new silhouettes, introducing some new fabrication, introducing new categories, and that’s kind of like the beauty of building a collection and building a brand.

Runway collections are often seen as art that reflects the designer’s creative vision, whereas commercial lines are generated towards everyday wearability and the mass consumer. How do you approach the creation of these two trends? How are they fundamentally different in your case regarding ideas, materials, technology, or approach to work? And how do you find the balance between creative freedom and commercial expendency?

I believe in authenticity, and I don’t force a division between runway and commercial pieces. My runway collections feature real, wearable clothing. Of course, styling on the runway may push boundaries to inspire, but the core of what I present is what my customers buy and wear. I ensure that my collections reflect what people love about my brand while allowing space for creativity and evolution.

Your collections are featured in major retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue. How do you balance creative freedom with commercial demands when working with such influential partners?

I see being a commercial designer as a strength. The goal of fashion is to create clothing that people want to wear. I never view commercial success as a compromise; rather, I see it as an affirmation that my designs resonate with women. I prioritize comfort, elegance, and authenticity, ensuring that my customers feel beautiful in my creations. Collaboration with retailers is an extension of this philosophy.

What key lessons and advice would you give young designers just starting out in the fashion world? What mistakes would you advise them to avoid and what do you think are the most important things to build a successful career in the industry?

Well, I love this question because honestly, I feel that the only thing that I like about aging in this business and industry is that you actually have the opportunity of giving back and working with younger students and designers and kind of like give them some of your experience. So I would love to share my thoughts. I think the most important thing is to allow yourself to make mistakes and if possible to make these mistakes on somebody else’s expenses. Work for other people. I think what’s concerning me the most there is this urge of young designers or students that they want right away to start their own brand.

I think it’s a recipe for a mistake, for a disaster. I think that, first of all, you need to be humble and you need to be able to work as a team, be inspired by working with a team. And I think that sometimes in artistic people, we have this very, too much ego and we just want to be able to do whatever we think.

And that’s not the way it works. You should develop a very strong point of view, you should develop a very clear handwrite, but it needs to happen after you work with a team of people and also you learn, especially the business side, by working for other companies first. That’s it? Mm-hmm, that’s all. Yeah.

Kobi Halperin’s journey over the past decade displays a devotion to craftsmanship, authenticity, and a great regard for the ladies who wear his creations. His approach flawlessly integrates legacy with innovation, providing his brand an enduring presence in the ever-evolving fashion industry.