Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Kai’s design has been a way of connecting with his Japanese heritage.
In brief:
- Kai McKenzie changed careers from electrician to international fashion designer.
- Despite early success, he is keen to take his business to the next level.
- Advice from Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS) has helped him plan his next steps.
Kai McKenzie had just finished his final exam to become a qualified electrician, after four years as an apprentice. But, after being let go from his full-time electrician role late last year due to company downsizing, he decided to follow his love for fashion and create a Japanese-inspired fashion label which sold out its first public release in just five days.
Connecting with heritage through fashion
Born in Australia to a Japanese mother and Australian father, Kai said his fashion label, Minami Studios is an homage to his mother’s heritage and her maiden name.
“I don’t know if it’s a common feeling that Australians born into two different cultures experience, but I felt a void and a lack of connection to my Japanese heritage,” he said. “This has been my way of connecting with it.”
With a trip planned to Japan late last year, he started out by creating five Japanese-inspired pieces of clothing for the trip. He documented the process on his Instagram account and has now amassed 74,000 followers, both English and Japanese speaking.
“I started posting in Japanese and now 10-15 per cent of my audience is based in Japan,” he said. “I posted really consistently until something resonated,” he said.
Free CBASS business support
Although Kai has found a great way forward with Instagram and socials, he said he was totally lost when it came to running a business.
That’s when he turned to the Canberra Business Advice and Support Service (CBASS), an ACT Government-funded program that supports Canberra businesses of all sizes and stages.
The service is delivered by Anna and Candice at Lighthouse Innovation who have over 30 years of business experience. They provide advice from setting up to closing a business and everything in between.
Kai heard about CBASS from a family friend. He called that day to make an appointment and met with Anna and Candice two days later.
“It was so reassuring to meet with them,” he said. “There is so much you need to do to set-up a business, and honestly I was lost.”
“They really helped me streamline things and map out timelines for all my plans. It felt really overwhelming, but they gave me some things to focus on, which I have, and they’ve worked out really well.”
CBASS offers up to four hours of free advice to business owners, tailored to their business needs.
Looking to the future
When asked what was next, Kai said he’s working on getting some more training to improve his technical skills and launching his first full collection.
“I had my first public release of a piece just this August,” he said. “It was the Tome (pronounced Tohmeh) pant in black and Khaki. I sold out in five days, and it blew me away! I’m working on making all of those now for my customers, and progressing with the launch of my first full collection, which should be ready for release in early 2025.”
Kai said he recommends anyone thinking of starting a business head to see Candice and Anna at CBASS.
“Go and see them,” he said, “It’s been such a reassuring process.”
To find out more visit the CBASS website.
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