About us

Established in 2019.

Heisei-Ko is a fashion label born from the creator's deep cultural love and appreciation of Japanese culture, including its language, history, fashion, and other intricacies of Japanese life. Inspired by in 2018 during his internship with avant-garde/Japanese-influenced fashion house Ito, created by, Jerry Jacob. 

Brand

Heisei Ko is best described as 職人Ground (craftmanship from the ground up), Champloo, & Avantgarde, as the cuts, textiles, prints, and art messaging convey a one-off prophetic experience. 

The art

Heisei Ko's designs and draws the art. But the brand truly came to life via the direct help of, 佐々木 建洋(Kenyou Sasaki). Kenyou-san himself is Japanese-American with a strong artistic edge that cannot be directly pinned down. 

Heisei Ko himself loves Japanese folklore and 浮世/Ukiyo-e (woodblock printing method) from China/Japan as an art and storytelling medium. The art is heavily inspired by Japanese legends with a unique twist. But the art always tries to utilize the Ukiyo-e brush method. 

 Medium

Heisei Ko as a brand, firmly believes in primarily using Japanese textiles and fabrics in keeping with not just the brand's aesthetic, but also a cultural reverence and unique guest experience.

 

What does Heisei-Ko mean?

 Heisei-Ko /平成子 (lit. Harmonious Child/Children).

平成/Heisei (lit. Peaceful Era) and 子/Ko (lit. Child/Children)

Heisei/平成 (lit. Peaceful Era, January 8, 1989), representing, the era of Emperor Akihito’s reign that started the day after Emperor Hirohito’s death. The kanji (Chinese/Japanese characters) that signify what this era stands for, Peace Everywhere, and the flower associated with the era is the 桜/Sakura (lit. Cherry Blossom) as a representation of harmony and beauty.

The designer chose the name as he was born two years after the start of the era and as a show of love and respect for the message behind the era along with his love of Japan’s influence on his life.

Mission statement

Heisei-Ko seeks to purely represent a reverence for  Japanese culture through fashion as art. Ultimately, we want you to wear what you feel, not what is presented/marketed to you. “Be at peace inside and outside the cloth you’re garbed in.”- Heisei Ko

©2025 by Heisei Ko. All rights reserved.®