DOMAKAYA
Karima Riachy
The creative behind Domakaya, the London family label turning hand-crochet into one-of-a-kind accessories that pop. Named for the women who made her.
Some brands are built on a gap in the market. Domakaya was built on a family. Karima Riachy learned to knit and crochet from her mother at twelve and never recovered, and the label she runs out of London is named for the women who raised her, the first two letters of each, in order of age. Doris, Maria, Karima, Yasmina. The pieces are exactly as joyful as that sounds: crochet cherries, watermelons, ladybirds, and no two ever quite the same.
Domakaya
The name is the family in miniature, and luckily, as Karima says, it sounded good. She started the label with her sister Maria in December 2002, and it took a few years to get everything running and to learn how the fashion industry actually works. Once stockists around the world started saying yes, they knew they were onto something. The thread, in every sense, goes back to her mother, who put a hook in her hand at twelve and made an addict of her.
One of a Kind
Everything is handmade, in limited editions, and no two pieces are the same. Each is finished with elaborate trimmings, beading, embroidery, brooches, buttons, leather, lace, feathers, velvet. The range runs from handbags, hats, hand-warmers, scarves, shawls, and ponchos for winter to handbags, headbands, and shawls for summer, for women and children, with menswear on the way and a bespoke service for anyone who wants something of their own.
No two pieces are ever the same.
From the Interview
Karima Riachy, in her own words
The challenges of starting your own brand?
A bigger challenge than I ever imagined. It has been eight years and I am still learning every day. There are so many sides to it, from the creative designing to controlling all the accounts, so you have to be on the ball 24/7. I started with my sister Maria, so we had each other's support, which was everything.
Your greatest inspirations?
I get inspiration from everything. I go to art exhibitions as much as I can. I love street fashion as much as couture, and the mix of the two always sparks ideas. There are designers I follow religiously, like Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander McQueen. And I love vintage stores. Vintage knitwear is so interesting.
Who do you have in mind when you design?
The fun-loving woman who is ready for an accessory that pops. I hope women of all ages can wear a piece from any Domakaya collection. The designs are diverse, from simple knitted scarves to crazy multicoloured mohican hats for the more adventurous.
Your proudest moment so far?
Being stocked in Saks Fifth Avenue, nationwide across the USA. The best feeling ever.
Favourite stores in London and New York?
In New York, Jeffrey, and Bergdorf Goodman, one of the best department stores anywhere. In London I love Zadig and Voltaire for little jumpers and vests, and the markets, Portobello and Camden.
What is next for Domakaya?
Expanding into kids and menswear eventually, and I would love to open a pop-up store for a few months.
I design for the fun-loving woman ready for an accessory that pops.Karima Riachy
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