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Pinay designer Marjorie Kobayashi

Josh Mercado

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775000928237image0.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Marjorie Kobayashi brings pride to PH.<em> Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>Blending academic insight with design innovation, Filipina designer Marjorie Kobayashi is redefining the language of fashion. Through her brand, Cool Kimono Crafts, she transforms vintage Japanese kimonos into modern and culturally hybrid designs, showcasing her work on runways in Manila, Tokyo, Hollywood, London, Milan, and Paris. </p><p>Originally from Calamba City, Laguna, Kobayashi’s journey reflects both local roots and global aspirations. A university lecturer based in Japan, she teaches English communication, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and international development. Beyond the classroom, she has found another way to communicate ideas — through fashion.</p><p>Seeing fashion as an extension of academia rather than a separate entity, every piece Kobayashi creates reflects the values she teaches, which include communication, sustainability, and responsible innovation.</p><p>With research interests in interdisciplinary studies of governance, local economic development, and climate change adaptation in relation to the SDGs, the Pinay designer, who bridges the Philippines and Japan, focuses on communication, sustainability, and international development.</p><p>After completing her undergraduate and master&#x27;s degrees at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Kobayashi went on to pursue a PhD at Nagoya University in Japan. She has been invited to teach in high schools and universities across Japan, engaging students in discussions on global issues and sustainability. These experiences transformed education into a two-way process.</p><p>“In teaching about realizing your dreams and taking action for the SDGs, I also found myself reflecting on what small action I can take,” she told ABS-CBN News.</p><div><strong>Kimono connection</strong></div><div><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775001035679image3.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></strong><br/></div><p>Kobayashi&#x27;s appreciation for the kimono grew throughout her time in Japan, particularly through cross-cultural encounters wearing kimono during her PhD studies and her bond with her mother-in-law.</p><p>Seeing her mother-in-law&#x27;s collection, which is carefully kept but rarely worn, left a lasting impact. “I realized how much history, symbolism, and craftsmanship each kimono holds, yet many are just stored away,” she shared with ABS-CBN News. “I wanted to find a way to preserve them, not just as memories, but as something people can wear again.”</p><p>This formed the foundation of her work: reviving old kimonos for current times. What started as curiosity and adoration evolved into a dream that would eventually play out on a worldwide scale.</p><p>“My brand was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we began producing ecological face masks made from kimono cloth. What began as a minor response to a worldwide problem quickly grew into something larger. We started transforming vintage kimonos into modern pieces that represent both Japanese heritage and Filipino artistry,” Kobayashi told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Her designs later evolved to include kimono bags. Today, her collections include trademark pieces like the Kimono Filipiniana and Kimono Barong. These are clothing that combine two cultures into a single unified form.</p><p>The brand has since expanded into a varied array of modern kimono-inspired pieces, such as kimono suits, denim jackets and slacks, shirts with long sleeves, coats, and skirts, all deliberately designed to incorporate traditional textiles into special events and everyday wear.</p><p>During the transformation process, the Pinay pride noticed that a substantial amount of cloth was left unused. This prompted her to adopt a zero-waste philosophy, guaranteeing that every part of the kimono is given new life.</p><p>“We didn’t want anything to go to waste,” Kobayashi said.</p><p>From these excess materials, the brand began manufacturing accessories such as hair pieces, sandals and shoes, earrings, neckties, and twillies, allowing even the smallest fabric fragments to become part of something significant and usable.</p><p>As her brand grows, she continues to work with local artisans in the PH. Her collections now include abaca kimono sandals and shoes, as well as kimono purses made of genuine leather and mother-of-pearl, all of which showcase Filipino materials and compliment her designs.</p><div><strong>Family</strong></div><p>Behind the brand is a close-knit family that works together. Her mother oversees the stitching of her designs, meticulously making each piece by hand. Her siblings also perform important roles: her youngest brother administers the website, her youngest sister designs accessories, her middle sister manages marketing, and her father and brother handle logistics.</p><p>Kobayashi also shared her personal story through the brand, such as being a Filipina married to a Japanese man, which has had a significant impact on her identity and creative vision. “He always tells me he is my number one fan,” she proudly said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775001155521image1.jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Fashion designer Marjorie Kobayashi with Japanese husband. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>Growing up in Laguna, which is home to several Japanese enterprises, Kobayashi was exposed to their impact on the local economy from a young age. That link grew stronger when she relocated to Japan, where she witnessed firsthand how Filipinos had become one of the largest overseas populations contributing to the country&#x27;s economy.</p><div><strong>International scene</strong></div><p>Kobayashi&#x27;s ascension in fashion has been marked by a gradual shift from local venues to the world&#x27;s most prestigious fashion arenas.</p><p>Last year, she presented her designs at major fashion events in Manila, Nagoya, Hollywood, New York, and London, as well as at the Graduate School of International Development&#x27;s alumni homecoming at Nagoya University, bringing her academic and creative worlds together.</p><p>In 2026, her global presence expanded even further. She showed her collections in Tokyo, where she reimagined kimono as part of modern everyday life; London Fashion Week, where she explored transformation and movement; Milan Fashion Week, where she fused kimono with structured tailoring, presenting modern silhouettes rooted in craftsmanship; and Paris Fashion Week, where she showcased femininity, strength, and renewal.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775001269101image4 (1).jpeg" style="width:655px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775001291781image5 (1).jpeg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Marjorie Kobayashi’s creations make their way onto international runways. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Her designs were also published in Harper&#x27;s Bazaar UK (December 2025-January 2026 edition) and Vogue Monaco (February 2026), marking another milestone in her career as a Filipina designer who brings cultural fusion and sustainable fashion to a larger audience.</p><p>“We want people to feel special wearing our pieces,” Kobayashi stated. “Every person is unique, just like each kimono is.”</p><p>From Calamba to classrooms in Japan and runways in the world&#x27;s biggest fashion cities, she uses education and art to transcend cultures.</p><p>&quot;I started with a dream, which I decided to follow, mold, and share with the world. With the help of those around me, a willingness to learn and grow, and a strong faith in God, I continue to demonstrate that dreams are meant to be lived with purpose, courage, and heart,&quot; concluded Kobayashi.</p>

<p>Blending academic insight with design innovation, Filipina designer Marjorie Kobayashi is redefining the language of fashion.</p>

Blending academic insight with design innovation, Filipina designer Marjorie Kobayashi is redefining the language of fashion.

Pinay designer Marjorie Kobayashi reimagines vintage Japanese kimonos

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Pinay designer Marjorie Kobayashi reimagines vintage Japanese kimonos

Josh Mercado

Published April 02, 2026 11:03 AM PHT

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