We've been proudly carrying Frizmworks for years at The Great Divide, and it’s a brand that continues to strike a rare balance: Timeless yet forward-thinking, classic with a twist. On a recent visit to the UK, Jay, the founder of Frizmworks, stopped by our studio (along with his partner Lily), giving us a chance to connect beyond the products and learn more about the people and ideas behind the label.
Here, Jay shares a bit of his story...From the early days of the brand to inspiration found in Hawaiian markets and favourite factories across Asia. It’s a glimpse into the heart of a brand we’ve come to deeply respect, both for its craftsmanship and its quiet consistency.
Why did you start Frizmworks — and where did the name come from?
Back in university, after completing my two years of military service, I had some time off during a break from school. I had always been curious about making clothes myself, so I decided to give it a try during that six-month break. The response was better than I expected, and I’ve been doing it ever since. Balancing work and studies wasn't easy, so it actually took me quite a long time to graduate.
The name FrizmWORKS didn’t have a deep meaning from the beginning. I just wanted to create a brand name using a word that didn’t already exist. I came up with “Frizm” by combining Freeze and Prism. That’s how the brand started.
What’s the story behind the brand’s inspiration? Are there any labels that influence your approach to Frizmworks?
To be honest, I don't really have a specific brand that I consider a role model or a major influence. I’ve always just made the kind of products I’m interested in. As I slowly built Frizmworks over time, I got a better understanding of what I like and where I want to take the brand. That’s been my guide ever since.
What brands do you personally love or find yourself coming back to?
If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Polo Ralph Lauren. I especially love their older pieces more than the recent ones. I admire how they’ve built such a strong world of their own and left a lasting impression. I think it’s great how they pay attention to even the smallest details and often draw on historical references to create their products. Personally, I really liked their now-discontinued line, Denim & Supply.
Have you ever found inspiration in an unexpected place?
Most of the time, I get inspired by unique fabrics or vintage garments. Since Frizmworks isn’t a reproduction brand, I try to collect all kinds of details from different places. One of the more unexpected places I found inspiration was a local market in Hawaii. They sold everything from fruits to fabrics with Hawaiian patterns. I actually brought a few fabrics back with me and developed some pieces from them.
What was the first product you ever made back in 2010?
The very first items I made were a heavyweight sweat varsity jacket, a logo tee, and a pair of denim jeans. I couldn’t make many different styles back then, so I just designed what I could and personally handled factory production. Since day one, I’ve been directly involved with managing factories, which helped me learn quickly.
Tell us a bit about your team — how big is the crew at Frizmworks HQ in Seoul?
Our team in Seoul consists of five designers including myself. Including the MD, CS, and logistics team, we have about 10 people. We manage everything in-house - from design and production to logistics.
Is Frizmworks mostly direct-to-customer in Korea, or do you wholesale too?
About 70–80% of our sales in Korea come from direct-to-customer channels. Since Korea is a small country with a very efficient logistics system, customers can receive orders the next day. That also means running offline stores is more difficult here, because many people try clothes in-store and then buy them online. So naturally, online D2C has become our focus. One of the benefits is that we get quick feedback directly from our customers. That’s why under our logo, you’ll see the phrase: “Hundred Percent Satisfaction.”
You’ve spent a lot of time visiting factories and production houses over the years — where have you enjoyed visiting the most, and why?
When I travel to factories in Vietnam or China, most of the time is spent checking on production and making sure everything is going smoothly — so there’s not much room to relax. But I do try to visit fabric and trim markets in those countries whenever I can. They’re often massive and full of things I’ve never seen before. In Japan and China especially, I often find inspiration just from looking at the materials they produce.
And finally, can you share your top 5 favourite Frizmworks pieces from the past 15 years?
For now, I’ve written about the three products that came to mind first.
Twill N3B Parka: This is the product that really introduced Frizmworks to the Korean market. It was released in the winter of 2011, a year after we launched the brand. It was so popular that our website actually crashed on release day. I often think that without this product, Frizmworks wouldn’t be where it is today.
M65 Fishtail Parka: I’ve always loved the M-65 fishtail jacket and personally own over 10 pieces from various brands, including vintage originals. Using my own preferences as a base, I developed this piece over the years and feel like it’s close to a final version now. We sell about 20,000 units every year, it’s become one of our key items.
Original Garments® Line: Launched in 2019, this is our basic line. I noticed that most plain tees in the market were either too cheap or low quality. So we decided to create a higher-quality alternative. Now, six years later, it’s one of our best-selling lines and a big part of our total sales.
Thanks again to Jay and Lily for making time to visit us, share stories, and give us a deeper look into the world of Frizmworks. We're proud to stock the latest SS25 collection and, as always, we expect it won’t be hanging around for long. SHOP THE FULL COLLECTION HERE