Outer Realms: An Interview with Kay Kwok

04/04/2024

By NOCTURA Magazine

Long before Beyoncé wore his 3D-printed chrome ensemble on the Renaissance tour, Kay Kwok was already shaping the future of fashion from Hong Kong. Known for his futuristic, sculptural approach to menswear and digital design, Kay's brand—KWK by Kay Kwok—is as much a laboratory as it is a label. We sat down with the designer to talk about technology, identity, and dressing pop royalty.

NOCTURA: Your work often feels otherworldly—metallic, inflated, digitally enhanced. Where does this vision come from?

Kay Kwok: I’ve always been drawn to ideas of the future—not just sci-fi, but the emotional experience of what’s ahead. When I design, I think about what we’ll need to wear in a post-human world. Clothes that are expressive, protective, and reflective—both literally and conceptually.

NOCTURA: Let’s talk about Beyoncé. That sculptural chrome look became instantly iconic. How did it happen?

Kay: It was surreal. Her team reached out, and I designed a piece that merged my aesthetic with the themes of the Renaissance album—power, transformation, futurism. It was 3D-printed, polished by hand, and made to feel like both armor and sculpture. Seeing her wear it on that stage was a turning point for me—not just personally, but for Hong Kong fashion.

NOCTURA: Your work blurs physical and digital fashion. What’s the role of virtual design in your practice now?

Kay: Increasingly central. I don’t separate them anymore. A garment might begin as a physical idea but evolve digitally—or vice versa. Digital fashion gives freedom to imagine beyond gravity, beyond mass production. It’s about emotion, not just commerce.

NOCTURA: KWK feels more like a creative platform than a traditional brand. Is that intentional?

Kay: Absolutely. I’m not interested in chasing trends or seasons. I see fashion as a space to experiment, to speak, to push materials and meaning. KWK is about possibility. If it doesn’t feel new, it’s not worth doing.

NOCTURA: What’s next?

Kay: I’m working on a hybrid collection that exists both physically and virtually—think AR wearables, real-world sculpture, and collaborations across sound and movement. It’s about building a universe, not just clothes.