KZ_K Studio is a brand The House has been following for a while for many reasons. In an effort to discover slow fashion brands with multifunctional use, we discovered this NYC brand and immediately fell in love. The pieces are inventive, easy to style with your current closet situation, and will amp up your staple selection. Discover the inspiration behind the designs from KZ_K Studio’s latest launch, The Cool Cycle, and get to know what makes this brand special through our interview with Creative Director and Co-Founder, Karolina Zmarlak.

This Manhattanite is a trans woman known as the New York Downtown IT Girl, as she brings the world together one dancefloor at a time. Her name, Linux, originated from the operating system, which is open-sourced. Unlike Apple or Microsoft, Linux has virtually no rules or limitations. Therefore, anything you want to create, can be created with Linux.

Whether it be a lived experience, a perspective on history, or a visual muse, the meaningful intent behind design acts as a compass to the creators guiding them along their process. This inspiration is a foundation underlying any unique conception of art. For Karolina Zmarlak, founder and designer of KZ_K Studio, these details do not go unmissed. Her designs are rooted in a story that is brought to life in all steps of the creative process, from the drawings at the studio to the human form and wherever these pieces may take her.