A note from Kate

My Story

A first trip to Hoi An, a custom leather bag, and the beginning of something of my own.

Kate wearing a white dress and her first custom brown leather bag beneath pink flowers on her first trip to Hoi An

01 / The beginning

It started with one bag.

I’m Kate, a former high school teacher from New Zealand.

KÖVI began after my first trip to Hoi An, Vietnam, in 2025, where I had my own custom leather bag made. I fell in love with creating something from scratch.

What started as an idea to make these beautifully handcrafted pieces more accessible became something much more personal. Custom-made pieces led to launching my very own collection.

I found myself learning as I went, working with local makers, designing pieces I wanted to wear, and slowly figuring out what KÖVI could become.

Kate with a woman outside a home in Hoi An

02 / Made in Hoi An

Made through relationships.

KÖVI is made through relationships I’ve built here in Hoi An, rather than through a large-scale factory.

I first met my tailor through my neighbour. He speaks Vietnamese, and my Vietnamese certainly doesn’t extend to conversations about leather, stitching and bag construction. Somehow, though, we make it work.

A lot of our communication happens through translating, photos, drawings, and plenty of back-and-forth. Over time, we’ve found our own way of working together. I love that every KÖVI piece comes from that relationship.

Kate choosing leather in a local Hoi An leather shop

03 / The leather

Chosen by hand, in limited quantities.

For the current collection, I personally hand-picked every leather from a local leather shop here in Hoi An.

Rather than ordering huge quantities of each colour, I chose the leathers I loved as I found them. Many colours are available in very limited quantities—sometimes only a handful of pieces.

As KÖVI grows, I’m working to find suppliers who can offer larger quantities while meeting the quality and character I’m looking for. The collection can grow while keeping that personal approach at its heart.

Kate wearing a white dress and carrying a pink KÖVI shoulder bag

04 / My philosophy

Designed to age beautifully.

I design KÖVI pieces with individuality, functionality and longevity in mind, from the silhouette and proportions to the hardware and finishing details.

Producing in small batches allows a slower, more intentional approach. Slight variations in texture and finish are a natural part of leather, allowing each bag to soften and age in its own way.

These are pieces to wear often and love for years to come. I hope you love your KÖVI piece as much as I’ve loved creating it.

Kate x

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