Karina Kosens

Fashion Design & Social Practice

Lithuania · Currently residing in the United States

About Her

Karina Kosens is a fashion designer and creative practitioner dedicated to exploring the fusion of form, society, and cultural context. She holds an MFA in Fashion Design & Social Practice from the French Fashion Institute (IFM) in Paris. Her practice emphasizes long-term values, trust, discretion, and meaningful relationships, positioning fashion as a cultural and social practice rather than a purely commercial activity.

She is the founder of COESSENS ATELIER, a high-end bespoke studio with no public website or mass marketing channels. The studio operates entirely on word-of-mouth and a trusted network of private relationships, offering a highly curated and intimate experience—less a traditional fashion brand and more a combination of an art studio and a private salon. Each project is considered a unique collaboration, emphasizing rarity, exquisite craftsmanship, and personalized service.

Simultaneously, Karina serves as an art consultant at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, working on cultural interpretations at the intersection of contemporary art, design, and society.

She also participates in interdisciplinary projects spanning fashion, real estate, and artificial intelligence, exploring how emerging technologies, spatial practices, and value systems shape contemporary culture.

Kalina values ​​intellectual depth, thoughtful consideration, exquisite craftsmanship, and continuous self-improvement. She enjoys meeting new people and considers learning a lifelong process.

Education

Master of Fine Arts – Fashion Design and Social Practice

IFM (French Fashion Institute), Paris

Professional Experience

Founder and Creative Director

COESSENS ATELIER

Private high-end bespoke fashion studio

No public website or large-scale promotion

Based on trust, referrals, and long-term personal relationships

Focus on scarcity, understated elegance, and personalized service

The studio model is inspired by fine art practice, not the commercial fashion system.

Art Consultant

De Young Museum, San Francisco

Advisor, dedicated to connecting contemporary art, design, and cultural interpretation

Interdisciplinary Fields

Fashion and Cultural Practices

Real Estate

Artificial Intelligence and Creative Technology

Residence

Kalina primarily resides in San Francisco, frequently commuting between San Francisco and Seattle. She co-owns a company in Seattle with a close partner. Her work often spans these two cities, reflecting her cross-regional professional perspective.