SOPHIA KOKOSALAKI LAUNCHES “KORE – SOPHIA KOKOSALAKI” WITH ASOS INC.

Ethically conscious line debuted through designer support programme from ASOS

London-based designer and graduate of world-renowned Central St. Martin’s College – launches “Kore – Sophia Kokosalaki”, an ethically conscious debut collection with ASOS Inc., the designer support initiative from ASOS.
Drawing on Sophia’s heritage, “Kore” translates to “maiden” or “daughter” in Ancient Greek – signifying youth, purity, strength and elegance. The empowerment of young women via promotion of social responsibility is central to the brand.
Most notably, this ethical commitment is seen through a long-term collaboration with a community cooperative workshop in Sri Lanka, where the hand-crafted lace trims featured as an element through the“Kore – Sophia Kokosalaki” collection are produced, providing a stable income for the all-female local team who each receive a fair wage. Additionally, the cooperative reinvests in the community through training and family welfare programmes.

Sophia says: “We have been looking for the right partner to create a younger sister line and found it in ASOS. The long-term friendship with Caren gave us time to develop a concept which fulfils our desire to start giving something back. Issues concerning women have always been close to my heart, having grown up with a mother who as a journalist was a strong advocate of women’s rights. After visiting Sri Lanka, our first support project under Kore is to work with the lace-making ladies to provide a regular income for them and their families. It is also important that Kore helps keep traditional hand crafts alive and viable in an increasingly mechanised world. It is our aim to build on these two major aspects in the future.”