Every once in a rare while, a small number of designers surprise me with their skills and ingenuity. It doesn’t happen very often. In fact, it happened no more than four times in these past fifteen years. You’ve guessed it! One of those designers is Malakai, a self-taught multidisciplinary artist who has been creating bespoke items since 1999, and founded his custom avant garde headwear and accessories brand – House of Malakai – in 2013.
It all began when he moved from Southern California to San Francisco in the late 1990’s to start his career in performance art and music (as a DJ). Soon enough, he became a well-known figure in the underground scene for his ability to create elaborate and imaginative costumes. In 2013, he traveled to Bali (Indonesia) where he opened his brand’s first atelier. Then, in a true nomadic spirit, he relocated to Berlin where he continues to expand his collections and establish his strong presence in the fashion and entertainment industry.
His works has been seen in top fashion magazines (such as Vogue , Rolling Stone, W, Dazed, et cetera) and on world-famous musicians and celebrities (such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, FKA Twigs, Erykah Badu, and many more). Known for his ability to weave seamlessly ancient tribal culture with cutting edge technology, he successfully created ready-to-wear collections that acquired cult status among fashion forward youths, especially in London, Tokyo, New York, Paris and Seoul.
