ROHKA is the work of two designers: Maria Restrepo and Ian Phin.
Maria is Colombian, and graduated from the Universidad de Los Andes as a lawyer before her interest in fashion took her to Paris to study at Esmod. On completion Romeo Gigli asked her to move to Italy and work with him in Milan. Ian is Scottish and graduated in textile design, and then transferred to London to conclude his studies with a MA RCA from the Royal College of Art and was also asked to transfer to Gigli’s studio where he met Maria. They spent six years with Romeo Gigli, and were then both asked to join the new Versace team for several years. After a brief period at Marni, and several seasons at Joyce in Hong Kong and Japan, Rohka was finally established as a collection and as a major consultancy studio. |
After consulting for clients such as Piazza Sempione in Milan, Shicata in Kyoto, a directional role for Onward Kashiyama, art directors of C. P. Company, Max Mara in Italy, and more recently in China, they became more and more interested in putting all their time and energy in to ROHKA.
ROHKA has always selected a small group of exclusive stores and boutiques world wide to carry their quietly luxurious but fun brand. Over the years their mixture of unique colours and vivacious prints combined with sophistication and quality has become an essential signature, brought to around 25 retail points worldwide. At the end of 2020 together with photographer and director Paolo Rosselli, they made a film to communicate the spirit of ROHKA. This was based in and around their house and studios, also featured in Vogue : a 17th Century water mill which they restored, near Milan, and where they live with their son, Dany and dog, Viola. |