Our Story NEW

KIBO 希望

KIBO means ‘hope’ in Japanese and our
mission is to bring some of it to the world by reinventing how footwear is made.

The ! is a reminder to do things differently. The fashion industry needs to change and tackle big issues such as climate change and modern slavery. And that's only possible if we adapt ourselves and unite as a community. Because we know that every small step goes a long way.

We are K!BO

Hi, I'm Natalie

Running the rat-race in the high-end fashion and beauty industry for over 10 years, I became quite jaded about what I had been doing. I wanted to contribute more to society while doing less harm to the environment, and one thing I knew: staying put would not allow me to accomplish that.

So I decided to restart on the right foot, literally.

Armed with my keen eye for fashion, and my partner’s expertise in footwear manufacturing as a second-generation footwear manufacturer, we created K!BO. A fashion brand that would allow me to express myself and, most importantly, let me control how we can do good for the environment and its people.

Hi, I'm Simon

After running my family’s footwear manufacturing business, I was not impressed by the huge amount of waste created during the manufacturing process. In almost every step, there was waste – from raw materials to dead stock.

I was determined to minimize waste, so Natalie and I decided to start a brand that was different. A brand whose products weren't just for show, but had real purpose and made a positive impact on the planet and its people.

And that's how K!BO was born.

Every time you buy, we give back

For each pair of shoes you purchase, a portion of the proceeds goes to Compassion First, a non-profit organization that fights human trafficking.

“Meeting and volunteering with them first-hand helped me understand how significantly our industry affects their lives. I wanted to raise awareness for them and help put a stop to this tragedy.”

- Natalie

BEHIND THE DESIGN

The five dots were inspired by children activity books - “connecting the dots”. The meaning behind it is consistent – to connect our community together and giving back to those in need.