January 19, 2022
Our Lived In Series was created to capture our clothing on a series of women, all pursuing their own creative paths, to see how they live in Kordal. So many women in our lives inspire us with their drive, their talent, and their genuine sense of self. These are the women we design for. They remind us of why we want to design clothing in the first place: to create pieces that encourage comfort, ease, and the unique and honest beauty in each and every one of us.
RJ of Re Jin Lee is an incredible ceramic artist based in New York. She comes from a background in fashion design and styling, but soon found a passion for home and product design. She is self taught and her work is constantly evolving; subconsciously taking in the influence of the surrounding softness of nature and the unpredictable moods of self, while still maintaining the firm structure of past influences.
Can you tell us a little bit about your ceramic practice and how your work has evolved since you started?
I mainly hand build stoneware using slab and coil building techniques. I have been working in clay for over a decade and I would say my work is ever-evolving, so it has changed a lot. I started out by painting onto commercial dinnerware, then explored working on the potter's wheel. I eventually found the slower, meditative hand building process to be what speaks to me most.
What is your favorite part of the ceramic process and why?
I love the meditative nature of working in clay, and how I lose myself in the process. But I think my favorite part is beginning a piece with an idea in mind and witnessing how much it changes by the time it's complete. I see it as a collaboration between the clay and myself. Clay has a way of doing what it wants, which I appreciate and embrace.
What are your biggest influences?
I have always been greatly influenced by the modernist architecture of São Paulo, the city I was born and raised in, and the traditional arts of Korea, my family's cultural heritage. These, as well as my background in fashion, and my current life, which is removed from the city and surrounded by the quiet of nature, are always playing some part in my creations.
What do you look for in your clothing? Are there particular textures, silhouettes or color palettes that you gravitate towards?
Comfort, neutral tones and staple pieces with classic silhouettes that will last many seasons.
What are you watching / reading / eating / listening to these days that brings you joy?
I'm listening to a lot of Latin American music these days. I have Danit and Gaby Moreno spotify radio stations on a loop. I'm currentely re-reading some of Gabriel García Márquez in Spanish as I've had only read them in English or in Portuguese. (Taking Spanish classes!)
To learn more about RJ and her work, you can visit her site at rejinlee.com.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Journal
October 17, 2022
Like many of us, I was introduced to Ilana Glazer through the genius of Broad City, a show that she and pal Abbi Jacobson created and starred in. So when Ilana came to our Fort Greene shop last fall, we just about lost it! We shared that this year is Kordal's ten year anniversary and it would be such an honor to feature her in our Lived in Series to mark the occasion. Fast forward a few months later and Ilana is rolling up to set in Crown Heights on her bike, and yes, she's just as cool and kind as you'd expect. She's generous with her time, has everyone cracking up and looks incredible in our knits - even on a humid 90 degree day. We got a chance to talk about pregnancy and healthcare, how styling informs her characters, and finding levity amidst existential challenges.
Read More
January 05, 2022
We were first introduced to Kelly Brown's work midway through 2021, a year into the pandemic and dreaming of the days we could travel to wild places again. Kelly is a photographer who splits her time between British Columbia and Joshua Tree, California and its her ability to beautifully capture these vastly different landscapes that drew us to her work. For this month's lived in series we caught up with Kelly to learn more about her inspirations, building an Earth House in Joshua Tree and becoming a mother.
Read More
February 19, 2021
This past season we asked our partners in Guatemala to save all of the fabric scraps from our quilted jackets and pants to give new life to a special project! Our incredible production manager Rosa worked with a local seamstress named Sandra to create patchwork panels which were then quilted and re-sewn, resulting in our first Zero-Waste Patchwork Quilted Jacket! While we are calling this our "Zero-Waste" jacket, we want to be clear that this is still a work in progress. Not all of our scraps have found a home, but we will continue to incorporate zero-waste practices into our design and production processes. These are just the first steps on our journey to circular design!
Read More
