Daria Golneva and Denis Caunov
The brand’s first collection appeared in 2020. It was designed and created by architect Denis Caunov and fashion designer Daria Golneva. They were born and raised in Moldova, studied at the Technical University, at the Italian Academy of Arts Aldo Galli (IED) and at the design courses of the Polimoda Institute (Florence).
Right from the start, the Moldovan brand attracted attention. In just a year it became known outside Moldova. In 2022, the solid Italian edition in the fashion world Vogue Italia published OK KINO FALL 2021-22 collection.
The aesthetics of the brand is based on quiet elegance. They try to combine the authenticity of Moldova with modern fashion. Clear silhouettes, precise cut and delicate color palette are the basis of each collection. Immersion in traditional Moldovan details is another important part of the brand.
Exploring the national heritage, creative directors Daria Golneva and Denis Сaunov carefully choose ethno-cultural symbols and codes, reinterpreting them in terms of new minimalism.
“We are attracted by the clarity of forms, the absence of color and a careful approach to silhouette. Our aesthetic can be characterized as clean, precise and slightly nostalgic, but always based on functionality. In the creative process, inspiration is drawn from many places: old photographs, architecture, local crafts. But we always come back to the idea of clothes that convey a sense of calm and dignity,” say Daria and Denis.
For the first three years they worked from home, without renting premises or hiring staff.
The “breakthrough” year for the Chisinau startup was 2023.
“Our story began with the first participation in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tbilisi, Georgia, in May 2023. It was a significant and defining moment, as it allowed us to present our vision on a professional platform and connect with the wider creative community,” the studio’s representatives recall.
“In September 2023, we were selected to participate in Milan Fashion Week as part of the Fashion Hub initiative organized by the Italian National Chamber of Fashion. Preparing for this stage, we created a small studio in the center of Chisinau, which became our base for design and production”.
Since then, OK KINO has been steadily growing. “Every season we take part in a showcase of Moldovan brands in our hometown of Chisinau, a platform that allows us to stay in our local community.”
In September 2024, OK KINO presented their collections at London Fashion Week, and most recently, in March 2025, they participated in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bucharest.
All OK KINO brand items are made in a Chisinau workshop.
“This approach allows us to control every detail of the production process and ensure high and consistent standards.” Fabric remnants from well-known Italian manufacturers are mainly used as raw materials. “We produce in limited quantities and deliberately maintain a slow pace of work. For us, environmental responsibility is not only about materials, but also about scale, intention and care.”
In Chisinau, OK KINO items are sold in the concept store Dofamin. They are also available on the international platforms Garmentory and NJAL.
