ABOUT US
Our family silk story started more than 100 years ago during first Latvia independence.
Here is our story:
Designer Baiba Ladiga - Kobayashi graduated form Latvia Academy of Arts fashion design department in 2004 with MA. When she turned 18, she was fashion editor of female magazine "S" as well worked as stylist and TV host.
After spending years in different fashion design companies and factories, including Intimissimi in Italy, she moved to Shanghai in 2007 and worked as a fashion design tutor at Raffles Design Institute and after six years, she quit and opened her own styling agency.
Returning back to Latvia in 2014, Baiba took part in Riga Fashion Week and it was immediate success - she got invited to Paris Fashion showroom as well Poland Fashion week to name a few.
Baiba Ladiga Kobayashi emphasizes the importance of sustainability in her design process and aims to create garments that are friendly for both - nature and a human body. The designer works with natural and sustainable materials such as linen, pays extra attention to the quality of the material and follows the principles of zero–waste fashion.
She got first sustainable fashion design award in Latvia -"Latvijas modes gada balva 2020".
Our fabrics are certified with OEKO-TEX® standard certificate.
In 2020 diffusion line Kobayashi Design was created - our bestseller - pure Mulberry silk Long heatless curler with ribbon ties that can be tied up is loved by thousands women all over the world. Now available in different sizes and lengths with S um M scrunchies. It was the first long silk heatless curler made in Latvia, and now it is one of the most popular in the world. We proudly tie it up from 2021! Our diffusion line is also available on the Etsy platform and selected concept shops.
Our silk story started 3 generations ago - Baiba's Great - grandmother Anna Emilija Rozinskis- Koch, in 1920s., during first Latvia independence, opened her Silk duvet hand embroidery studio in Jelgava, Sniķes krogs.
She had a few employees, designed her own ornaments that where hand embroidered on silk that was made in capital of Latvia - Riga. Anna-EmIlija Rozinskis Koch in the middle, her daughter Daila with her doll, left side - seamstress.
Below sketches for silk duvet by Anna-EmIlija Rozinskis Koch and above hand embroidered finished silk duvet during exhibition in Jelgava, 1920s .
Here you can see some images form Schnecken pub with a mill (Sniķes krogs or Schnecken) studio and exhibitions that where held as these silk hand embroidered duvets where real artwork.
After Latvia got occupied, Sniķes pub and mil was burned down and silk story was interrupted for many years, but family never stopped making garments and accessories.
Family lost almost everything but did not escape, instead during second world war they built a new house in Jelgava.
Baibas mother and father was always good at sewing and even now we still can use our Great - grandmother's old Singer.
After working many years with various fabrics, Baiba Ladiga - Kobayashi returned back to her roots, that Great - grandmother had established- pure silk.
Luxurious curler is made of 100% pure Mulberry silk, 22 MOMME, grade 6 A, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified, it benefits hair shine, growth and creates frizz free curls. Our staple soft and comfy, round, not bathrobe belt like flat cushioned stuffing is designed for easy sleep and round, bouncy curls . Curling rod is twice longer than average standard in the industry as it has long ribbons for easy tying and sleeping. Set includes XS or M size scrunchies, claw clip. Curlers are designed by professional fashion designer, Baiba Ladiga Kobayashi, who, after serious health issues, decided to work on sustainable lifestyle product design. Kobayashi Design silk curler story started on our website and Etsy, now loved by thousands of woman and girls worldwide.
The name Kobayashi Design comes from the surname of Baiba's husband, Japanese architect Reiji Kobayashi, and from the Japanese language it means - small forest.
Handmade in Latvia in high quality finish, since the beginning of 2021 and comes in a few sizes - Small ( also perfect for children and short hair) Large, Extra Long and Extra Large - to satisfy any customer needs. It is often worn during the day by our customers as it looks like a cute, tied up hairstyle. Our signature origami like cross folding makes it look perfect as a gift, also easy to carry during travels
Kobayashi Design Long heatless curler with continuous wide ribbon ties that won't break ( unlike narrow, attached ones that can due preasure and can be tied up in an elegant bow.
Designer Baiba Ladiga -Kobayashi strongly believes that silk is the best for our skin and hair and products should be made in Latvia with love, same as did our dear Anna Emīlija Rozinskis-Koch.
Our family's Silk Road continues and we are confident that our experience, quality and love for products created in Latvia will be appreciated even more widely in the world!