KisiKoso: Jewelry With an Anime Universe

There are people who wear minimalist gold hoops. And then there are people who want tiny handcrafted characters with lore hanging from their ears. KisiKoso is for the second group. Original characters and fictional islands shape its entire world. Additionally, it features handmade pieces that blur the line between jewelry and collectible art. As a result, the brand has turned wearable accessories into something much more fun. It is now a full-blown universe you can carry around with you.

What began as a small student side project has now evolved into a fully realized creative studio. Now every collection unlocks a new chapter of the “Kiskoverse.” Rings, necklaces, and accessories become tiny storytellers. The character Koso ties each piece together through different personalities, aesthetics, and worlds of its own. It’s playful, detailed, and slightly chaotic in the best way possible (like your favorite childhood cartoons grew up and got really good taste).

1. KisiKoso is built around a very distinctive universe and even original characters. What is the story behind the brand?

How did everything come together from the first idea to becoming a fully formed creative studio? KisiKoso is actually a rebrand of Bonjaylab, a brand I created in 2020 while I was still an undergraduate student. At the time, I needed some extra cash to fund my hobbies. After looking through numerous jewelry references and thinking of ways to differentiate my pieces from others, Disney suddenly popped into my mind. When I see Mickey, even just the silhouette, I immediately know it’s Disney’s Mickey. That was what initially inspired me to create my own character, Koso.

I started with five differently shaped characters, but eventually discontinued the rest to focus solely on Koso, as I felt the design was the most versatile. Not sure if anyone realized, but throughout different collections, I’ve stuck with the same base character. I have simply adapted its accessories and colors to match each theme.

Over time, what started as a small side project evolved into KisiKoso. It became a space where I could fully explore character design and storytelling in the form of jewelry and fashion accessories. This eventually became a fully formed creative studio.

2. Koso and the characters in your universe feel central to the brand’s identity. Who are they, and how do these characters shape the meaning, personality, and storytelling behind each piece you create?

In my mind, the Kiskoverse is home to thousands of “islands”, and every collection unlocks a new island, each with a different theme. The Kosos are citizens of that island, so their design and story are unique to that specific island. I want the audience to feel as though they are journeying through the Kiskoverse. They can discover one place after another. This is translated as well in my jewelry and apparel pieces. Each island’s theme is inspired by whatever interest I have at a specific time and I turn it into a fully realized world.

3. There’s a clear sense of intention and care in your work. Can you walk us through the making of a single piece, from idea to final object, and who is involved along the way?

I usually start by creating 5-10 moodboards to later choose one from. Having a moodboard helps me give a clear boundary to my designs and keeps the collection visually coherent. With the moodboard as a guide, I’ll then sketch out 10-15 character designs. Once I’m convinced I’ve ran out of design ideas, with the help of my sister (who is also my business partner), we’ll together pick out 3-4 designs to represent the collection. These character designs will then be explored into different kinds of products: rings, bangles, necklaces, earrings, to handbags, in the form of 2d digital designs. I then printed them out on paper in several different sizes to help me decide the best size for each product.

These printed out 2d designs also act as my design and size reference when I sculpt my design prototypes with clay. The finished goods are all in resin, though I find them a lot stronger than clay. With color palettes I picked out from my moodboard, I mixed out every single color I needed for the designs. I use paint that I kept in air-tight plastic tubs to keep them wet for a long time. Every single piece of jewelry is then hand painted and secured with a water-repellent varnish. At the moment, KisiKoso’s jewelry production is handled mainly by me, sometimes with help from my family. Meanwhile, my sister takes care of the social media content.

4. In a world of mass production, KisiKoso emphasizes handcrafted work and small runs. What does “taking time” mean for your brand, and how does it shape the final object?

Taking time means paying attention to little details and giving our best efforts in delivering our values even when sometimes it may feel like a lot. I believe that by handcrafting each piece, we give it its own uniqueness, which shows in the subtle differences that arise when we make each one individually. We always feel so fulfilled seeing our pieces, knowing we gave our all in every step of the way.

5. Your work sits somewhere between fashion, art, and storytelling. What do you hope someone carries with them, emotionally or personally, when they wear or own a KisiKoso piece?

I want them to feel like themselves. The Kosos come in many different designs, stories, and personalities, so I hope people are able to see themselves in one of them. In that way, each Koso becomes a small extension of the wearer.

6. KisiKoso feels like more than a brand, almost like a growing world. How do you see this universe expanding in the future: more characters, new mediums, or different forms of storytelling?

Instead of only visualizing parts of their worlds through the characters, I’d love to fully bring each world to life through dioramas and short stop-motion animations that tell the story behind every collection. Additionally, we could turn longer versions of those stories into comics! Someday, I would even love to collaborate with a game developer to create adventure games. I think that would be such a fun way to explore the Kiskoverse. This is especially true since I grew up spending most of my time playing computer games as a kid.

The most charming thing about KisiKoso is that it never feels manufactured, even as the brand continues to grow. Every collection still carries the same sense of curiosity, playfulness, and handmade care that started the whole project in the first place. Which means the Kiskoverse doesn’t just feel like a brand people buy from. It feels like a world people want to belong to.

This is a reminder to us that fashion can still be fun. It can tell stories, create characters, spark nostalgia, and make people feel seen; all while hanging from a necklace or sitting on your finger. Tiny objects with huge personality. Honestly, the Kosos are doing more emotional labor than most group chats.

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