Korean Vegan Materials, Korean Design and Korean Heritage.

HLK began when designer and shopaholic Harlie Kim moved back to Korea from America in 2013 with her 3 daughters. There, all three began having respiratory problems due to the polluted air.

Harlie reflected on the overflowing number of clothing pieces she owned, many of which still had uncut tags. Her love for fashion was killing her children. Since then she decided to find solutions to better, slower fashion.

Harlie K started as a small upcycling studio where she would collect donated denim and turn them into wearable pieces, and now she creates a variety of sustainable designs for her daughters and the generations after them.

We preserve the history and beauty of Korean minimalism, architecture, and appreciation of nature to create functional products made with Korean-sourced materials. 100% made in Korea, with love.

south korea's air pollution

Seoul ranks the lowest on air quality out of the 35 richest countries in the world that are a part of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Each year Korea’s ‘Yellow Dust’ or air pollution is so severe that it is common for authorities to advise vulnerable groups not to go outside.

the fashion industry

Fashion is the world’s 3rd most polluting industry. It is the 2nd biggest consumer of water, 85% of textiles go to garbage dumps annually, and 500,000 tons of microfibres are released into the ocean every year.

climate crisis

This means that 10% of the world's greenhouse gases comes from the fashion industry alone. With Korea's textile and apparel manufacturing industry contributing to 28% of the country's GDP in 2021, the problem will only grow bigger.

We need to keep our planet beautiful and livable. That's why we design with intention and purpose.

HLK aspires to create a world where Korean design is enjoyed by many.

Our items are functional, beautiful, made to last, with future generations in mind. HLK bags started as gifts Harlie wanted to give to her daughters. And now, these gifts can be passed on — from you to your kin to cherish, until they are buried in earth.

  • ATELIER HARLIE K

    Atelier Harlie K creates upcycled designs through community-oriented craftsmanship. We collaborate with local senior citizens to empower our partners, and upcycle to minimize waste.

  • HLK

    HLK sustainably preserves the heritage of Korean minimalist beauty, through Korean vegan materials and user-centric designs.