Harlie K (creator of HLK) 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.

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.

Seoul ranks low on air quality compared to many of the largest cities in the world. 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.

Fashion is the world’s 3rd most polluting industry, emitting 10% of global greenhouse gasses. However, the textile and apparel manufacturing will by no means stop, as it contributed about 28% of the country's GDP in 2021.

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.