The Berlin based Rianna + Nina are finally bringing their one size, couture kimonos to the U.S.

&quot;It&#39;s like a UFO has landed in Berlin&quot; is how Rianna + Nina&rsquo;s fans described the initial launch of the brand three years ago. The vivid colors, complex patterns, rich silks and stunning, indescribable textures are archetypal opposites of the dark, minimalistic style Berlin has become synonymous with.

It all started when Rianna Nektaria Kounou met Nina Kuhn at a vintage furniture fair. Both were wearing bright colors and immediately hit it off. As if that wasn&#39;t enough, Kuhn had&nbsp;a background in public relations, doing press for Galeries Lafayette in Berlin, while Kounou&rsquo;s family has been working in the secondhand clothing market for decades by way of vintage shops and collecting rare fabrics. Naturally, Kounou also got her education in costume design.

Shortly after the two had their first dinner together, the brand Nina + Rianna was born. Ever since, they&#39;ve been having touble keeping their pieces in stock. Taking a look at their <a href="https://riannaandnina.com/collections/">website</a> instantly reveals that almost everything is sold out. A previous trunk show on Moda Operandi sold out within just two days. Their pop-up, which just opened on the third floor of Bergdorf Goodman (and remains open for the next two weeks) brought fans who plucked some of the very best pieces during the first day. One individual had her stylist spend over $100,000&nbsp;on opening day.

The secret of their success lies in the individuality of each of their garments. A Rianna + Nina kimono is one of a kind. Each is crafted from an assortment of vintage silk scarves and fabrics and handmade in Berlin, hence the brand&rsquo;s couture references. Sometimes, you&rsquo;ll even find one made completely of Hermes scarves.

But the magic doesn&rsquo;t end there: you can style them in a variety of ways, too. A printed kimono can be worn open with jeans, its sash tied around the neck like a choker necklace. Or you could belt it and wear it as a dress for a night out. The beauty of the Rianna + Nina&rsquo;s pieces is that you could have an entire wardrobe of them, but it wouldn&rsquo;t feel like you were wearing the same thing.

&ldquo;We use about six different scarves, from Hermes, Dior, different brands, and mix them together,&rdquo; says Kuhn. While the focus is clearly on kimonos, the friends also craft kaftans, dresses and some variations of outerwear, such as capes (all one of a kind.) One&nbsp;dress from the line encompasses up to 30 different scarves. Rianna + Nina also recently collaborated with Swarovski, for a few over-the-top glitzy pieces available at the&nbsp;Bergdorf pop-up. In general, pieces range from $800 to over $15,000. However, the&nbsp;key philosophy&nbsp;that makes an impact no matter the garment, is that everything is one size. Along with that, all the jackets are completely reversible. Some of the heavily patterned silk pieces are transformed into classic, demure blazers when flipped.

&ldquo;What we like about the kimono is that it&rsquo;s not fitted,&rdquo; says Kuhn. &ldquo;It fits so many women, it&rsquo;s comfortable and it&rsquo;s still special. You can wear it with a belt or without. It&rsquo;s so tiring for so many women with tops that are so small. It&rsquo;s not a problem, but the industry makes a problem.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Rianna and I, we are so different body-wise, but we look good in our designs. Both of us.&rdquo; Notably, both were wearing their own designs and looked incredible at the Bergdorf event.

Prior to arriving at&nbsp;Bergdorf Goodman, the label&nbsp;sold pieces from its Berlin shop and atelier, as well as from a&nbsp;few international retailers in Europe. Coming to New York signifies not only that the brand is expanding, but also highlights&nbsp;the launch of their ready-to-wear line, which debuted in Berlin just a few months ago. Like the line&rsquo;s signature pieces, the ready-to-wear clothing focuses&nbsp;on vintage textiles&mdash;the difference is that they are not one of a kind. Instead, the duo hunted down pieces, like vintage 1940s tablecloths, that would make for the perfect garment.

&ldquo;In this industry, everything is so fast and everything is about cheap production,&rdquo; says Kuhn. &ldquo;Everything is about trends. We will keep on doing the kimono. We know it&rsquo;s a trend right now, but we did them right when we started three years ago. It&rsquo;s really shocking for us how big kimonos got. It&rsquo;s our bread and butter.&rdquo;

11.jpg

7.jpg

10.jpg

9.jpg

8.jpg

6.jpg

5.jpg

4.jpg

3.jpg

2.jpg

1.jpg

Rianna + Nina's Couture Kimonos Come to New York 

L'OFFICIEL USA December 2024 - Julianne Moore Cover

L'OFFICIEL USA November 2024 - Salma Hayek Pinault Cover

L'OFFICIEL HOMMES USA October 2024 - Rupert Friend Cover

L'OFFICIEL HOMMES USA October 2024 - Joseph Quinn Cover

L'OFFICIEL USA September 2024 - Fall Fashion Cover Featuring Supermodel Sasha Pivovarova

L'OFFICIEL USA June 2024 - Nicole Kidman Cover

L'OFFICIEL USA June 2024 - Megan Thee Stallion Cover

L'OFFICIEL USA May 2024 - Jackson Wang Cover

L'OFFICIEL USA May 2024 - Natalie Portman Cover

Rianna + Nina's Couture Kimonos Come to New York

Tags

Recommended posts for you

Fashion

Mariah Carey Signs off for the Holidays With Chic Aspen Look

Pop culture

How the Royals Are Spending Christmas 2024

Fashion

The 28 Best Dressed Actors and Musicians of 2024

Fashion

See the Most Iconic, Unforgettable Runway Shows From 2024

Fashion

Calvin Klein Reveals Details on Its 2025 Return to New York Fashion Week

Fashion

How to Channel Dua Lipa's NYE Style? 7 Celebrity-Inspired Party Outfits

Shopping

19 Chocolate Brown Accessories You'll Want to Keep Forever

Travel & Living

The 'Mastery and Risk' in Making Vintage Champagne, According to Dom Pérignon