Wait, You want this Custom-Made?

Hello, this is Nina, founder of Labovarde.

Running Labovarde, I sometimes

get requests for special custom orders.

Maybe it's because I used to run a fashion brand, 
but someone has reached out asking me to make clothing.

"We're not really a custom-order atelier,

but when an interesting request has come along, we've taken a few on."

One of the most memorable

was making stage costumes for a celebrity.

We've done plenty of celebrity sponsorships before,

but designing a full costume from scratch is a different story.

It was a leather outfit — and honestly,

leather fashion isn't easy for most people

to pull off day to day.

If you're commuting to work or school, showing up

in a full leather look might make the people around you a little hesitant to get close!

But idols and celebrities are always looking

for something that makes them stand out,

so leather is always a welcome choice.

When they send over their measurements

for a custom piece, there's something surreal

about building an outfit to the exact proportions

of someone you recognize from TV —

it makes you feel like their personal stylist for a moment.

Of course, we've also had non-celebrity clients

invest around 1,000,000 KRW in a full leather look,

and while I was genuinely grateful,

I did wonder a little whether they'd actually

get to wear it often in everyday life.
 That said, back when I used to wear full leather looks myself

— jacket, pants, and shoes —
 it was an incredibly striking outfit. Honestly? So satisfying!

There was even a time a well-known actor

saw one of our runway lineups and reached out wanting to buy the full head-to-toe look.

We ended up not selling it, though —

it was a showpiece we wanted to keep for ourselves!

Custom order inquiries keep coming in

for Labovarde too.

Since we're not a clothing brand,

most of our custom requests these days come from companies, brands,

and individual customers rather than celebrities.

One especially interesting project

was making a custom, signature item

for a celebrity's official fan club.

We've also made custom pieces for clients

to bring along to international conferences

or meetings with overseas buyers.

We're not a made-to-order atelier —

we're a premium leather brand — so we can't take on every request.

But if a project is interesting

and fits the direction of the brand, we're always open to it.

If you'd like to create something great together, feel free to reach out anytime!

We'll be waiting, hands clasped tight, counting down the days.

*Then and now, we continue to use eco-friendly leather and plant-based vegan leather.