If you think you know what fashion means, think again. In Kate Hewko’s world, there’s 65-year-old models alongside 20-year-old models and no exorbitant price tags. Hewko is a Canadian fashion entrepreneur, founder and CEO of the Kate Hewko brand, bringing rebellious, fearless fashion to the masses.
Hewko launched her career organizing independent fashion events in Toronto. Her rebellious spirit and ambition drove her to create runway shows for herself and her peers. Hewko soon moved across the country to Vancouver to apply her skills professionally,becoming a buyer for an upscale boutique. Eventually she worked her way into marketing for a large Calgary-based retail chain – which is where most people would slow down, having happily reached their dream job. Not Hewko: she couldn’t shake her entrepreneurial itch. In 2007, she opened her own boutique.
Hewko’s brand today stems from her passion for inclusive fashion. Her clothing and jewelry are for people willing to express themselves boldly, regardless of conventions around age, size, shape, or gender expression. . She prides herself on her progressive approach to fashion and wants to empower as many people as she can through her clothes. She explains, “As a woman, you hit 40 and suddenly you have all these magazines feeding you bullsh*t about what you can and can’t wear. But on the inside you still feel 25; you still feel like rockstar, and there’s a whole army of us who still want to dress like one, too.” During the lockdown in 2020, Hewko knew it was time to pivote. At the time, she was running her eponymous concept store, which sold unique pieces made in collaboration with select manufacturers. The lockdown could have spelled disaster for Hewko, but she embraced it as an opportunity instead. Her marketing skills were put to use, and she doubled down on social media and e-commerce to expand her business. Three years later, she’s now shipping orders all over Canada and the United States and has opened a fulfillment center in Nashville, Tennessee. Hewko employs a team of over twenty women and folx and has her eye on expansion in Europe and the UK.
With Hewko’s designs, women can reject conformity and express themselves through style. Many women feel like they’ve lost touch with their inner fashion muse along the way, but Hewko is opening up a whole new world for those who feel suffocated by today’s fashion standards. Age- and size-inclusive, Kate strives to bring an edgy, fearless twist to all her pieces. And it’s resonated: Hewko’s found her fellow fashion rebels.
With that kind of attitude, it’s no surprise the Kate Hewko brand has been recognized internationally. Hewko’s clothing has been featured in publications like Vogue Korea, Refinery 29, Fashion Magazine, and Flare. Notable celebrities, including Maye Musk, Miley Cyrus, Idina Menzel, Cyndi Lauper, and Lizzo, have been seen wearing her pieces. The Kate Hewko brand has been worn to the Grammys, the Oscars, the Emmys, the VMAs, and more.
Kate Hewko’s collections are constantly reaching new heights, and she has no plans to slow down. She envisions launching fulfillment centers and stores all across Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe. Hewko wants to provide edgy, runway-ready looks to badass women across the globe. The women-owned and operated brand is always looking for ways to spread its message. Sharing her passion for fashion is Hewko’s mission, and she is only getting started.
