Kerisma Knits Co-Founder Lihui Ke Shares the Inspiration Behind the Beloved Knitwear Brand

With their affordable yet luxurious knits, sweaters, cardigans and more, Kerisma Knits has established itself as one of our favorite fashion brands, especially for the cool weather seasons.

Founded in 2010 by Lihui Ke and her father, Phil, Kerisma combines a love for design and architecture with a passion for well-constructed and comfortable designs in every cozy knit piece. With everything under $200, the brand strives to provide high-quality, modern knitwear for the everyday woman, incorporating elements from where the co-founders have lived in Wenzhou, China as well as Paris, New York City and Los Angeles. We've been fans for years, and we had the opportunity to speak with Lihui, who's also the brand's creative and sales director, to learn more about Kerisma and what makes their pieces truly unique.

Name: Lihui Ke

Hometown: Wenzhou, China

Zodiac sign: Virgo (Gregorian), Dog (Lunar)

 

1. Lihui's obsession with fashion began in Paris.

"I moved from my hometown of Wenzhou at the age of 7 to the fashion capital of Europe. I didn't know it at the time, of course, but it was a big cultural shock that left a lasting impression on the little girl version of me. The unique architecture and fashions of the time reinforced each other in a uniquely Parisienne style that was visible on the streets, the metro stations and inside each train car, the casual cool alfresco cafés, also in the grand shops of Galleries Lafayette and Au Printemps, which my mom would bring us during the holidays. I was enamored by the elaborate window displays and art deco atrium staircase."

-Lihui Ke

 

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2. Her sense of style has never been stagnant.

"My personal style continues to evolve over the years and flirts with both masculine and feminine silhouettes. It ranges from to romantic dandy to minimalist cozy to avant-garde architectural. With my recent travels, I gravitate towards more tonal pieces that complement and contrast with my copper-red hair color. The other day, a roll of aluminum rolled out and I began to imagine it as a sculptural crumpled collar.

My closet is a pastiche of the last two decades of 'adulthood' from my early mid-twenties when I discovered secondhand and discounted designer shopping in NYC.

That was a big game-changer. I've consistently collected tailored blazers/jackets, dress shirts, eclectic belts and accessories and shoes. I can build an outfit from any piece, layering on by color, textures and shapes. I love it when pieces from different periods come together unexpectedly. I like to play and build looks with new and older pieces."

-Lihui Ke

3. She's not afraid to look to other iconic designers and creatives for inspiration.

"You could say that I am always rediscovering my closet! Some personal designer favorites are Vivienne Westwood, Norma Kamali, Rei Kuwakubo, Dries Van Noten, Yohji Yamamoto, Uma Wang, Nina Ricci, Coco Chanel, Albert Elbaz, Martin Margiela, Henrik Vibskov and Rachel Comey. Outside of fashion, also, writer Anais Nin, stage designer Es Devlin, lighting designer Olafur Eliasson and furniture designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are a constant source of inspiration."

-Lihui Ke

(via Kerisma)

4. Her work actually began in architecture before exploring fashion.

"I began my career as an architectural designer after earning my bachelors of architecture from Pratt Institute in NYC in 2005. By year four, I realized that my trajectory in the field would be an incredibly slow ascent, both creatively and financially. I felt incredibly disengaged from the scale and speed of building designs and construction. This led me to reconsider my career path and seriously consider my love for all things fashion.

I grew up alongside my parents and their siblings who worked in the garment industry as sewing contractors, making clothes for various local NYC labels. I wanted to pivot to fashion but tie in my architecture sensibilities. The opportunity came on Thanksgiving of 2009 when my father's sister—Auntie XueFen—came to visit us from Rome. She'd been a semi-retired clothing wholesaler in Rome for many years. She craved something new and a possible life closer to her siblings here in the States.

Along with my father, the three of us decided to start our own fashion line in Los Angeles! The name Kerisma came to me in a dream. It embodied what I wanted our clothes to express for every woman that wears them: their inner beauty and charisma. My role as creative and sales director made sense considering my design background and transcontinental cultural upbringing. Their expertise in fashion wholesale manufacturing and production was key to leading the business side of the company. We narrowed in into knitwear as we felt there was a gap in accessible quality knitwear for the creative woman to build her closet beyond fast fashion. My challenge was to create year-round collections full of unique designs. Kerisma stands apart from other brands as our designs cater to multi-generational women from the blooming daughter to the chic mother and sweet aunties to the eclectic grandmas. Dressing women to uncover their true charisma has no age limit!

We've been consistently working with two women-run knitting factories in my native country China to achieve consistency, high quality construction and in-house design standards. Although our prices have gone up in recent years, we've maintained that sweet-spot range from $80 to $250, to be affordable without a discount. We are in this business for the long run, 14 years strong, so we believe in our accessibility formula on all ends from quality, to price point, to design originality."

-Lihui Ke

 

Also read about: How Rima and Eddy Vaidila Used 30 Combined Years in Fashion to Create the Brand of Their Dreams

 

5. The name "Kerisma" is a fusion of the word "charisma" and Lihui's family name, "Ke."

"The intention is for our playful designs to express the inner beauty and charisma of every woman that wears them."

-Lihui Ke

(via Kerisma)

6. When she's in a rush, her go-to outfit is a bralette under an oversized fun blazer or vintage kimono.

7. The best advice she ever received was a message of simplicity and contentment.

"My friend Neelam Sharma once shared: 'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'"

-Lihui Ke

8. Recently, he favorite piece of clothing in her classic has been an asymmetrical Jacquemus shirt in ecru with ruched knotting and metal ring accents.

"My other favorite is our Kerisma Tetra Sweater in Cheddar/Chocolate. It's like wearing a hug all day!"

-Lihui Ke

(via Kerisma)

 

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9. She considers herself to be anti-trend.

"I prefer pieces that stand the test of time. However, I do love a good Boho blouse and a collarless jacket… just not together."

-Lihui Ke

10. One thing Linui wants everyone to know about her is that she's deeply connected to the energy of the universe.

"I'd like everyone to know that I am connected to the cosmos and I believe in the everyday magic of dreaming and manifesting. It takes intention, constant practice and deep courage to keep living, sharing love, joy and peace while furthering my deepest passions. The day to day struggle is real, but I feel very fortunate to have the unwavering support of my family, my peers,and my friends to be able to grow and flourish as an Asian-American woman in today's America."

-Lihui Ke

 

For more on the entrepreneurs who inspire us, click HERE to learn about Maya Smith's family-run haircare business, The Doux.