Three Inspiring Advice for Entrepreneur Women in 2022

2021 is quickly coming to an end and here at kay me we’ve taken time to reflect on a few of our most cherished memories of this year. As our team grew with every new store opening, we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a special collection, as well as many exciting events! Among these were our Exclusive Interviews, hosted by kay me founder Junko Kemi, where we met esteemed guests in the top of their fields in Japan to share their experience and wisdom with us. Here is a recap of our first three remarkable guests who graced us with their abundant knowledge and tips for blossoming female entrepreneurs!

The path to leadership with Ms. Natsumi Akita, Marketing VP of Adobe Japan

On our very first episode, we welcomed our guest Ms. Natsumi Akita, Marketing Vice President of Adobe Japan. Before Adobe, she extended her marketing chops in both the U.S. and Japan (from the likes of Master Card, Citi, HSBC to name a few), handling large-scale global teams. According to Ms. Akita, for ambitious individuals chasing the top, the first step to becoming a leader is to simply envision yourself in that position:

“It’s important to hold an image of how you want to be seen, and planning steps on how to become that version of yourself. If it’s a leadership role you are envisioning, you need to take a step back to see what parts you are missing and slowly take your time to obtain those missing elements.”

From there on with time and experience, you mold into the shoes that you create for yourself.

From large-scale global team management, dealing with cultural differences to male-dominated environments and maintaining leadership, and advancing to the global stage, Ms. Akita shares her seasoned advice in wealth in our exclusive interview below:

Weathering the economic storm with Ms. Sakie Akiyama, founder of Saki Corporation Ltd.

Our next remarkable woman we spoke to is founder of Saki Corporation Ltd., Ms. Sakie Akiyama. Pursuing the path of entrepreneurship in the industrial machinery sector, she has had her fair share of tough times and knows the importance of turning a bad situation into a chance for opportunity – something she has done for the past 25 years to keep her company running.

With the impact of COVID-19, many businesses have exhausted their resources, including their optimism and spirit. Similarly during Ms. Akiyama’s company presidency, she led her entire team through the devastating Lehman Shock of 2008 and not only recovered company earnings, but brought it to a steady increase just simply through a change in mindset. She recalled her toughest memory of the Lehman Shock:  

“During that experience, the least I could do as an entrepreneur and a company president was to look at the situation through numbers. I used this to communicate with my employees for them to understand the situation, and… brainstorm what steps needed to be taken to alleviate it. In order to do this I had to truly believe in what I was going to tell them and to make my mind up prior in order to truly convince them with my words and to win their trust over… I learned quickly how important being able to convey your thoughts is.

That’s when Ms. Akiyama adopted a new approach and what she recommends to those facing adversity and struggling to regain composure: imagine yourself in the worst-case-scenario and realize that it is not so bad. Stepping back to imagine herself in the worst case, where she sat in a dim-lit dingy room, eating a simple bowl of eggs over rice across her husband, she accepted she would be OK even at “rock bottom”. With this new positive outlook and no longer overcome with negativity, it was easier to concentrate on work and for Ms. Akiyama, a turning point both in her life and business from there on.

Check out her story and advice for women seeking global advancement below:

Finding your drive with Ms. Miwa Koyasu, founder of Will Lab Co. Ltd.

Finally we spoke to Ms. Miwa Koyasu, founder of Will Lab Co. Ltd., a company working to promote women with career opportunities, mentorship and development especially in the rural areas of Japan. Founded around the principle of ‘Will’, a term she uses to describe your ideal version of yourself, she walked us through ‘Will’, ‘Can’ (what you can do), and ‘Must’ (what you must do), three key features of drive that allows one to complete tasks and reach goals and explains why any entrepreneur needs to find their ‘Will’:

“There’s a lot to do, a lot of ‘Can’. They possessed skills and knowledge but no ‘Will’, which caused people to become lost, especially in their careers.

Of course I knew the importance of ‘Can’. It’s important to have skills to be able to complete the tasks at hand. But those who had skills but no ‘Will’, from my observation, did not grow as quickly as those who possessed ‘Will’. Although it is important to be able to complete given tasks, without ‘Will’, people lack the drive to push forward, which is key for any entrepreneur who is planning on starting up their own business.“

Pursuing who you want to be and how to find your ambition utilizing ‘will’, to exercising self-reflection, Ms. Koyasu shares her advice she imparts at her very own company in our exclusive interview:

With each interview we felt more motivated and inspired by these powerful women who shared their incredible journeys with us, both in their professional and personal lives! With more stories and advice from remarkable women coming up, visit our Youtube channel and subscribe to stay tuned for future interviews coming in 2022!

Meet Catherine O’Connell, the “Lawpreneur” empowering women in law – Part 2

We met with busy trailblazer Catherine O’Connell, an entrepreneur, lawyer and leader to one of Tokyo’s leading networking group for supporting and empowering women, Women In Law Japan. In Part 1, we dove into her success becoming a “Lawpreneur” and learn what it takes to step up as a leader in the female community in Tokyo. Today, we get more personal and hear about the people and books which inspire Catherine and her points to dressing for business.

A role model in New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern

I got to meet her in person in Tokyo in September 2019 and also got to sit with her and talk all manner of things during a business luncheon meeting. How down to earth, smart and funny she is. I’ve loved seeing her be a role model for global leaders, for women, and for men.

I especially loved it when she said “One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or not assertive enough, or maybe somehow, because I’m empathetic, it means I’m weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.”

This is the essence of true leadership. She said that following the terror attack in Christchurch in March 2019 and it has resonated with me ever since. If only I can be half the leader she is, I will double my current leadership energy in the community.

Finding inspiration in memoirs and women who challenge the status quo

I have just finished three amazing books. One is a New York Times Bestseller “Lead from the Outside” by Stacy Abrams and the other is a memoir by Karen Hill Anton called “The View from Breast Pocket Mountain”. I also just finished reading another incredibly amazing book called “More than Enough” by Elaine Welteroth, from which an inspiration for driving my “Lawyer on Air” Podcast comes.

She said: “there is so much wisdom locked up in the stories women never tell”. I’m doing what I can to tell those stories and amplify women’s voices in Japan.

Know your rhythm to make your schedule

A day in the life of Catherine O’Connell:

7:30 AM: I’m an early riser so I’m typically at my desk doing creative work for my business and always 20-30 minutes reading for pleasure or a chapter of a business-success book.

8:30 AM: I am on calls and in mastermind groups working on self-development. Usually around mid-morning, if it is a day that I am recording a podcast episode with one of my guests, I would jump online and do the recording, and work on the show notes and social media content with my podcast producer after that.

10:00 AM: By this time, I’ll be on my second coffee of the day (only 2 coffees/day) and I will be right into client calls or client work.

12:00PM: At this time, I turn off lights in my office and take a break including a walk outside. I prep all my lunches on a Sunday so lunches working @home are a breeze. There is nothing like preparation to set you up well for the week.

From 13:00PM: I tend to devote the afternoon to networking, introductions, pitch type calls with clients and potential clients and people I may build long term relationships with. Usually in the evening I have online meetings with organizations I’m involved in such as FEW Japan (a network of women empowering women in Tokyo) and some of the Chambers of Commerce. Before COVID-19 I was consistently out in the evenings networking, but I now (secretly!) relish being at home in the evenings and connecting with people online for fun or building relationships for business.

From January 2021, I adopted a “healthfirst, immunity-first” approach and intermittent fasting is part of my lifestyle now, so I will finish eating by 7:00 PM in the evening through around 1:00 PM next day. To me fasting is not a diet but a lifestyle and it provides me with great liberation, and freedom around having only two meals and the rest of the day for exercise, working, self-time and enjoyment.

Dressing as a sign of respect

I always aim to look stylish and put together for the day from the first call to the last.

How we dress is a mark of respect not only to ourselves but to the person we are meeting with or the event we are attending.

Nowadays, the shift to on-line has allowed people to be more casual in dress style. That is not wrong but it is not the style for me. I like to wear outfits that inspire confidence and professionalism with whomever I am engaging with.

Tip 1: Make it “Stylish”

When I say “stylish”, it isn’t something over the top or the latest fashion trend, but more of a preference for classic designs. I tend to go for separates and love dresses to emit my feminine personality. I usually choose one or two bold colors (blue, red, yellow, orange, pink, green, silver, gold or rose gold) to set off a traditional black and navy core garment.

Tip 2: Accessories make the perfect conversation starter

On my travels overseas I have always looked for interesting jewelry to incorporate in my outfits. I make a point of dressing with one special eye-catching item that is a talking piece like a brooch, or a ring I have made (yes, I make accessories) or a statement necklace. You can style-up any outfit with accessories and keeping an eye out for interesting and novel pieces is a curious activity I adopt.

Tip 3: Don’t let your game down for online meetings.

When I need to work online, from top to ankle I am dressed as I would if I were in an office setting. From left and right of my iMac screen, I have excellent soft yellow lighting prepared and I always have my lips colored and ready for action.

Impressions wearing kay me

kay me clothing is so versatile and really fits my image.

I moved away from suits as a lawyer some years ago, and prefer the dress and jacket look now. I also really love prints and so kay me is easy to fit into the image of professionalism x femininity that I want to portray to my clients and business stakeholders.

A lot of thought has gone into the design and the selection of the stretchy materials of kay me dresses so that they flatter women’s different sizes, and heights and are truly easy to co-ordinate.
I loved the playfulness of the Tiny Dot pattern, and this can easily take me from daywear any season, through to evening if I slip on a jacket. It was such a breathtaking moment to put on the Tiny Dot dress and I squealed with delight when the zip went right up! It cinched me nicely at the waist and glided over my lower body and it felt really nice to wear. I loved the pockets in this design especially. 

I am a big fan wearing color as well, and my eyes were drawn into the Japanese design of the Takeyabu Green Wrap dress that I wore in Part 1. I loved that this was a wrap dress and how easy it was to wear. It would be simple to take in an overnight bag or in-flight and arrive fresh and ready for business meetings. There is no way anyone would not see you and remember you in this Japanese print. It’s a signature piece of clothing and I felt elevated wearing this design. 

What I noticed wearing the pumps was how they gave the illusion of longer looking legs, which was a new discovery for me. I had such a great time trying on the perfectly made dresses and look forward to seeing further designs in the various ranges they have.

The Bag Story – Part 2. A Respect of Artistry

In the first Bag Story, we looked at the conceptualization and initial design and construction process of the dream bag. In this piece, we look at the final steps of completion – the artisans’ last touches to finish the dream bag.

After the pieces were punched out using the 43 different molds, we thought it was time to sew; but there were many dire steps to prepare that followed.

The “Skiving” Process.

The pieces must be prepared accordingly with a before sewing could begin. The first being the “skiving” process. Here the artisan thins out the edges of the vegan material with his chisel in uniform fashion, making sure each edge has the desired thickness in order to bond all the pieces together seamlessly down to the inner lining.

The artisan doesn’t thin them out just once – each individual piece is thinned again around the outer edge so they can be folded and sewn with ease. Shaving each edge requires perfect control- guiding just the edge of each piece through the skiving machine and moving the piece with the curves – one mistake could leave the piece unusable. Therefore, only an experienced and skilled craftsman could handle this, for all 90 pieces for each bag. Such a meticulous and painstaking process and we could not help but admire the remarkable skill and perseverance that it meant to be a craftsman of this caliber.

A Matter of Speed and Accuracy

After the skiving is finished, the pieces must be reinforced with interlining, using a specific tacky glue that dries quickly. To paste the interlining and bond the pieces together, speed and accuracy are of the essence.

Time for the craftsmen to shine!

Now, we take a look at “Edge folding”. This process is all finished by hand, relying on only the craftsman’s hands, his tools and a lot of his time. Each edge is carefully folded to the desired shape The edges of the materials are carefully bent to create the desired line, and with curves the edges have to be pleated ever so finely for a natural, beautiful finish inside and out. This folding and pleating requires impeccable  patience, and calls for the craftsman’s skills and aesthetic sense to shine through.

Meticulous Attention to Detail

Once the edges are folded, then it is time to start putting each piece together. As each piece varies in thickness, the sewing machine must be altered each time to best suit the individual piece. This step requires technical skills and intuition accumulated through many years of experience.

The Last Step: The “Quality Check”

After the sewing process, each bag is examined for its quality. They are thoroughly checked for lint, faults in the material, distortion, and any other imperfections.

And with the final check, the 29 Pocket Wallet Bag is finished!

Through the craftsmen’s experienced skills and artistry were we able to create the dream bag, and left a deepened respect for Japanese craftsmen, not only for their exquisite skills, but also for their ideology.  We hope to be able to support the prosperity of their skills and traditions for generations to come.

The Final Product!

Simple, yet highly functional, with a sleek and premium couture design
Inside of the 29 Pocket Wallet Bag. Perfect for overseas trips and parties. Keep everyday essentials all in one place!
The lightweight material is water-repellant and cruelty-free
Storage for two separate currencies
Perfect for business scenarios, with 4 ample storage pockets to hold business cards
Place your IC card in the back pocket for an easy touch & go

kay me’s dream bag in fruition – the 29 Pocket Wallet Bag. See its full features and range on our website or to see more ethically, made-in-Japan bags, see our Bag Range.

2020 Resolution – Conscious Fashion

The first month of January is soon coming to a close and still lies a long year ahead in the world of the fashion industry. While fast fashion still remains as the go-to option for many, more light is continually shed on its effects on the environment, and people have taken notice. This year for 2020, women have chosen to be more conscious and savvy with their purchase decisions, and are shifting their focus away from fast fashion.  All of which, is paving way for another trend on the rise – sustainable fashion.

We at kay me love supporting ethical fashion, and our pieces are no exception. Take a closer look at how kay me supports ethical, sustainable fashion through our products.

It can be a difficult decision to make whether or not to buy products made at the expense of an animal for fashion. However at kay me, we made that decision clear; from day one, our line of products are made with cruelty free and ethical practices and include no animal products at all. Our bags are made using a premium, 100% vegan leather, put together by highly-skilled local Japanese artisans who ensure the top-level quality and finish to each bag. Scroll through our line of vegan bags and wallets.

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While Japan is a treasure cove of beautiful crafts, design and culture, however the very traditions which propelled Japan into cultural recognition worldwide, is being carried on by a handful of craftsmen and small local businesses. kay me is driven to ensure local practices and traditions continue for many generations to come and we enlist local expert artisans in the making of our clothing, from fabric-dying, embroidery to hand-stitching and sewing.

 

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Know that standing out in kay me, is standing up proud for small trades and keeping traditions alive. Explore our range of dresses, knits and stoles, or learn a little more about the kay me background here.


We are proud that we, and other brands have taken the step towards creating a fashion industry with a more positive, sustainable future. We hope you are inspired this year to make more conscious purchase decisions, support local craft and businesses and share our love for our ethical fashion.

 

kay me’s three problem-solving features

Did you know that kay me was envisioned by brand founder and lead designer Junko Kemi to meet her exacting work-wear needs?

Searching for new outfits appropriate for the office back in 2011, Junko was disappointed that none of the clothing on offer ticked all of the boxes for her.

Instead of compromising or giving up, Junko decided there was a perfect gap in the market for a range of women’s clothing and business suits that was machine washable, soft and stretchy, and in a classic chic style.

Let’s take an in-depth look at kay me’s three problem-solving features…

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1. “I don’t want to waste time dry-cleaning

Being able to machine-wash at home ensures that you’ll never have to worry about dragging a whole pile of items to the dry-cleaner, paying extra, dealing with slippery protective bags, and above all, worrying about the next trip to the cleaner.

We’ve chosen a selection of both man-made and natural fibers that provide excellent color retention, and are easily washed at home with no complicated instructions, can be hung to dry, and are also crease-resistant meaning no need for ironing.

2. “I want to be comfortable

In addition to be being machine-washable at home, our fabrics are also chosen for their softness and stretchiness.

There’s nothing worse than feeling too tightly restricted by clothing during a busy day. As part of Junko’s career as a consultant she was used to traveling around the country by car, train and air, so she understood the true value of being able to commute to and from work and live an active life in the most comfortable way possible.

Additionally, our dress and clothing patterns have been designed, redesigned and reworked multiple times to ensure that every seam, tuck and pleat is perfectly placed on the body to create a surprisingly comfortable and flattering silhouette.

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3. “I don’t want to feel stressed about outfit coordination

Say goodbye to the Monday morning closet panic!

All our items have been designed and made to seamlessly wear together, with classic items such as suits always available in must-have navy and black, with colors including gray and charcoal, pastels and rich reds available seasonally.

For even more outfit inspiration, be sure to take a look at the coordinate suggestions on every item page, with kay me’s expert stylists providing inspiration for how to wear each item within the kay me range.

To learn more about the behind-the-scenes story of kay me, click here!

Print story – seaside stripes

Hi everyone, and happy Marine Day from Japan! It’s Yuko from the kay me atelier team, back again to share with you the story behind the stripes of our lovely long skirt

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I’m lucky enough to love by sea, just outside Tokyo. With the sound of the waves and the beautiful blue of the sea, I feel like my senses are healed every day!

So, we decided to make a charming stripe print. (Did you know that horizontal stripes are called “border” in Japanese? Vertical stripes are simply stripes!)

We chose this hand painted style with random wavey lines, just like waves.

So, how about the colour? We tried a few combinations:

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Cool colour tones, chic and mature pinks and greys, warm colours, cute and grown up…

Well, after all, this print is inspired by the sea, so in that regard we decided that the strongest combination is classic navy and white. We also chose to place the stripes diagonally to create flattering lines – this takes a lot of time to match the stripes on each side, but it’s worth it for the beautiful end result.

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Why not try a marine-style outfit by wearing our long skirt with white, or with darker navy for casual weekends in the city?

Until next time… Yuko.

Material story – Rayon

Hi everyone, it’s Yuko from kay me’s atelier team!

Today I’d like to tell you all about one of the fabrics we use here at kay me, rayon.

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So what is rayon made of? Starting with fibre (cellulose) contained in natural wood pulp, it’s chemically melted to make the soft fine fibres that make up rayon. Although it’s chemically made, modern rayon is strong and supple, as well as skin-friendly – feel cool in summer and warm in winter.

Believe it or not, it’s actually recommended to wear in the summer as it has a natural deodorising effect!

One of the reasons we choose to use this fabric is the rich lustre of top-quality rayon, and how well it can take colour meaning prints stay sharper and bolder for longer.

It also drapes beautifully, helping to show off the handmade tucks, pleats and drapes of our unique dress patterns.

Take a look at some of my favourite dresses available in rayon:

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(Aka-michelle waist-gathered dress, Monet waist-gathered dress, Comet drape dress, Lila waist-gathered dress)

Until next time… Yuko.

Luxurious, authentic and handmade – kay me’s 100% silk dresses

The feeling of silk is incomparable, and that’s just one of the reasons why we worked long and hard to create our wonderful signature line of 100% pure silk jersey dresses.

Not only can you experience the luxury of silk every day, but our unique jersey is also fully machine washable and not susceptible to creasing.

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With two new dresses now added to our line-up, there’s never been a better time to feel the sensation of silk.

With a stylish raised collar and gathered bust, our new silk dresses are a great choice for special events in spring and summer, and beyond. The subtle floral print and texture compliment the pretty pink and blue colour variations – pair our pink dress with warm tones and blue with cooler shades.

kay me founder and lead designer Junko Kemi chose to wear our blue dress on her recent business trip to India.

With a full 170 grams of silk in every square metre, kay me’s silk uses double the usual amounts of threads, making it in the top 1% of silk produced worldwide.

This distinctive silk used by kay me is an investment in terms of cost-per-wear, as well as being a revolutionary time-saver – no need for any more trips to the dry-cleaner or hours lost to laundry.

Silk also has a long history of use in Japan, with silk fabrics from 8th century Nara still surviving to this day, and was the clear choice for kay me as an all natural, breathable cloth that also helps to shield the skin from damaging UV rays.

Join as we explore some of the patented process that go into making our handmade silk jersey dresses…

How it’s made:

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Reeling and degumming – The silkworm cocoons are first boiled in hot water to soften the material. One worm can produce around 1500m of silk, while seven to eight cocoons are needed to create one long thread suitable for later spinning.

Our environmentally-friendly patented agent contains a natural protein called sericin, which helps to further dissolve the cocoon. Another protein inside the thread, fibroin, is produced, and this creates the beautiful natural shine that silk is known for.

Knitting – kay me’s washable silk is produced in our Kyoto factory, using a circular knitting technique that ensures the back and front of the fabric have the same smooth texture on both sides, making the inside just as lovely as the outside.

kay me’s search for the perfect washable 100% silk has taken years to perfect, working together with  skilled Japanese artisans to turn the dream of washable easy-care silk into a reality.

The process of turning the silk into a fully washable fabric is performed at the same time as printing, creating less waste overall for the environment.

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Anti-scratch – Following the second round of cleaning, the fabric is treated with a patented agent that prevents scratches and colour loss, meaning that kay me dresses can be washed and worn again and again, keeping colours bold and prints sharp.

Starching – To make the colours on kay me dresses even more vibrant, prior to printing the fabric is treated with a sizing agent. Talented workers at our Kyoto factory check the silk at each stage to maintain the Japan-made quality standards that are prized the world over.

Printing – kay me’s Contemporary Kimono line is inspired by our authentic heritage of kimono silks and patterns from Junko Kemi’s grandmother’s kimono boutique. From our Kyoto factory to the Ginza store, Contemporary Kimono dresses are printed with long-lasting colourful inks that preserve the unique natural tones found in Japanese kimono culture.

Drying and finishing – Our drying process uses the most natural method: the silk is dried in the sun in the enchanting old capital city of Kyoto. This time-consuming process retains the natural shrinkage of the fabric, and means that kay me’s dresses are fully washable with no excess shrinkage following machine washing at home.

Additionally, to prevent the silk from losing its shape, all edges of the silk are sewn with a special tape that protects the shape of the silk knit.

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Invest in heritage and discover the timeless beauty and practicality of kay me’s 100% silk dresses today.

Getting Organised for the New Year

As we welcome 2018, it’s a great time to embrace (or brush up!) our organisational skills. Whether this means cleaning out your closet, sorting the files on your desktop or investing in a new pen and paper planner, taking a small amount of time makes a big difference later on.

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We asked our Japanese customers which methods they prefer for keeping track of their schedules, and the results proved very decisive! Here’s the final breakdown:

Paper planner – 62.9%

Other scheduling apps – 11.4%

Smartphone/tablet in-built scheduling app – 10%

Google calendar – 7.1%

Paper calendar – 5.7%

Company’s own scheduling system – 2.9%

It seems that our Japanese customers by far prefer traditional pen and paper when it comes to scheduling and planning. It’s no wonder, as Japan has some of the most beautiful stationery made from ancient techniques, as well as practical solutions including the world-famous Hobonichi Techo planners.

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kay me’s Junko Kemi loves her leather-covered schedule book, with a week on one page and free list-writing space on the other. It’s familiar sight at the kay me office!

For those on the hunt for Japanese stationery and goods, we recommend the century-old Itoya store as well as Tokyu Hands, both just a short walk from our flagship store in central Ginza.

Happy planning!

Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018!

2017 has been another amazing year for us, with kay me going from strength to strength each and every month.

Some of our highlights include the opening of our new store and members club in Shinjuku, Junko receiving yet more industry awards, our new kay me Select line and the relaunch of our international website.

Here’s a few of our favourite images from the past year:

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Keep in touch with us on Instagram for more…

A big thank you from everyone at kay me for joining us on our journey this year, and we’re so looking forward to sharing the next year with you!