The Japanese streetwear-inspired clothing label turning heads with its innovation.
Boasting a name inspired by Japanese philosophy, Desu is the future-thinking fashion brand taking Bali by storm. Created by designer Kate Arshanitsa, the line of mens and womenswear makes a statement through its merging of Japanese-style streetwear with innovative fabrics and techniques. While proudly based on the Island of the Gods, Desu is now stocked worldwide.
A passion for leather-focused fashion, and an ongoing interest in Japanese culture and style, helped to spawn Desu back in 2011. By 2016, a womenswear collection was launched, alongside a production house based in Canggu, in an architect-designed building as bold as the label itself. Today the brand has entered the world of menswear too, continuing to embrace geometric shapes and layering in its designs, which are as comfortable as they are progressive.
“The idea behind the brand has always been to create timeless styles with natural materials that make people feel fashionable and comfortable at the same time,” explains Desu designer Kate. “It has been about creating form-fitting patterns that compliment the figure while bringing in a futuristic and urban edge.”
But Desu’s point of difference also lies in its embrace of unique fabrics and techniques, and focus on being handmade. “We hand dye our fabrics and use our own specific wax technique,” says Kate. “Everything from the pattern-making to the end product is done in-house. We believe that our attention to detail and the fact that our team has been working together for many years is why we continue to thrive.”
