KATT FORE celebrates the quiet strength of women who do it all. This month, Mijae Kim shares her view on motherhood, creative identity, and what it means to finally put down roots. We sat down with Mijae to dive a little deeper into her creative world.

You spent your teens in Tokyo, studied in London, and built your career in Seoul. For someone who never stayed in one place for more than a year, what finally made you stay?

Through my 20s, I was a wanderer, absorbing the distinct vibes of Tokyo and London like a sponge. The reason I finally anchored myself in Seoul was due to two profound 'births' in my life: the birth of my child, and the launch of my own studio and brand. If my past was about wandering to collect inspiration, having my child and my own work made me want to build a solid world of my own right here. I realized that putting down roots isn't about being tied down; it's about digging deeper into your own universe.

You run a studio, you founded a brand, you're a mother, and you recently got married. What does your day actually look like, and which version of yourself asks the most of you?

What demands the most from me is definitely my role as a 'director'. However, unlike before, I no longer push myself into burnout. In the past, my perfectionism made me waste energy on unnecessary meetings, meaningless outings, and being overly accommodating to others. Now, I've learned to boldly cut those out to protect my energy. Maintaining my own pace gracefully without overdoing it—that is my way of balancing multiple roles without wavering.

You said you have high expectations of yourself and are not easily satisfied. Has becoming a mother changed that, or sharpened it?

Interestingly, my obsessive expectations of myself have actually lowered, even though my taste and standards for the world have naturally risen with age. Balancing motherhood and my career made me deeply accept that 'I cannot be perfectly good at everything.' Once I let go of the pressure to be perfect and relaxed a bit, life became much more comfortable. Paradoxically, the essence of my life became even clearer.

After years of pouring yourself into other people's visions, how do you protect your own creative identity and the things that are just yours?

Ten years ago, when I founded my brand 'Tea Collective,' I deeply fulfilled my creative thirst and identity. Having gone through that intense process, I am now quite free from the pressure of constantly having to create something entirely 'new.' Instead, I focus on finding beauty and value through my own perspective in things that already carry the weight of time, or in the works of other brilliant creators. Curating these things, sharing them, and finding joy in the process—that is the most natural way I keep my creative identity breathing today.

Who is the woman in your life, outside of work, that you would call if everything felt like too much?

Always and forever, it’s my mother. Even though she is no longer with me, whenever the world feels overwhelming and I want to let go of everything, I still call her in my heart. After pouring out my feelings and thoughts through that imaginary receiver, I sometimes burst into tears, just like I did in her arms as a child. A good cry like that magically clears my heavy heart and gives me the strength to stand back up.

From the studio to school runs to evenings out in Seoul, what does dressing for your life actually look like?

Unless it's a strictly formal meeting or a high-end brand event, I always keep my dressing 'true to myself.' I don't dress overly formal just because I'm heading to the studio, nor do I go entirely casual just for a night out in Seoul. Regardless of the time, place, or occasion, I refuse to be trapped by typical dress codes. Instead, I maintain my signature casual and chic mix-and-match points. Staying effortlessly myself is how I dress for my life.