Does fashion really need look to the great metropolises when searching for inspiration? Not always. In line with the 5-knot brand's theme of "travel and vintage", the founding designers Ena Kizawa and Taketo Nishino have been travelling around the world, incorporating the charms of the countries they have encountered to life in their designs.

In a first step towards expansion, 5-knot succeeded in attracting the attention of customers from Canada, China and Hawaii to designs that tell of mountain landscapes, tranquility and village traditions. With international assistance from the DHL Designer Award Japan, the label is now poised to gain a foothold in Southeast Asia, the US and Europe.