When the unveiling of his fall 1983 Collection, KOKIN emerged as one of the newest forces in international fashion.  His millinery mastery was instantly recognized and in subsequent years has been sought after by such industry giants as Oscar De La Renta, Bill Blass, Pauline Trigere, Giorgia Sant Angelo, , Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Zac Posen , Oscar Carvallo ,Charles Nolan , Catherine Malandrino and others.

Born and educated in Buffalo, New York, the designer had cultivated a passion for the performing arts and longed for a career in the entertainment field in New York City.  Even as a child, KOKIN needed no encouragement to get up and sing for any visiting family, friends, or even the milkman!  His interest in the visual arts and fashion also blossomed at a young age, but he was not to realize his future career path until his arrival in New York. KOKIN has said "Even as a child, I never made my bed....I draped it ".

A night course at The Fashion Institute of Technology brought his new creative direction into focus.  After a brief stint in off-Broadway theater, KOKIN was looking for a new direction. Show Biz would have to wait !

A single semester in Millinery convinced him he had other undiscovered talents.  The swift recognition of his new enterprise led him from making hats in his kitchen to a loft showroom 6 months later. His first accounts in a year were Bergdorf Goodman , Barneys and Saks Fifth Avenue , only the beginning .

International acclaim has made his collections a “must buy” for fashion conscious retailers from Paris to London, Milan to Melbourne and Toronto to Tokyo.  If there is a place in the cosmopolitan world where KOKIN is not sold, his fans can follow his craft in the pages of Vogue, Elle, Bazaar, Mademoiselle, Italian Vogue, Allure, Essence, Vanity Fair, Lucky,New York Times and other international publications.  The hats of KOKIN are often seen crowning the talents of such celebrated women as Julia Roberts, Hillary Duff , Raquel Welch, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cindy Lauper, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Tara Reid, Christie Brinkley, Sophia Loren, Ivana Trump, Joan Collins ,Mischa Barton , Sarah Jessica Parker ,Cher , Queen Latifah , Macy Gray ,Beyonce , Shannon Tweed the ever chic Bianca Jagger, and always provocative client Sharon Stone.  Barbra Streisand wears his creations in her garden, and Bette Midler wears them for “bad hair days.”

The recognition for the talent of KOKIN does not end with his loyal retail and private following.  In 1991 and 1992, KOKIN’S design talents were officially acclaimed, and he was voted Millinery Designer of the Year by members of the fashion press, the only hat designer ever to have been so honored in two consecutive years.  In September 1992, he was bestowed with the “Gift of Style” award given by the National Kidney Foundation at their annual benefit in Chicago.  The trophies of his labors again multiplied when the prolific designer once again won the 1994 Millinery Designer of the Year award and was named “Rising Young Talent” by the esteemed “Fashion Group” of New York.

KOKIN has often been called a natural in front of the camera, and has been spotlighted on television in such renowned formats as Elsa Klensch and her “style” shows for CNN, Good Morning America, VH1 Fashion Television, and “Real Life” on the NBC network and other numerous regional television shows.He is now a regular featured designer on HSN .

One of KOKIN’S favorite work credits was the style-setting movie“Clueless.”  When KOKIN created the memorable hats for the film, young girls everywhere clamored for the “Clueless look.”  KOKIN eventually duplicated his success for the  “Clueless” Television Series. Of course seeing his hats on the "Sex And The City " hit T.V. series didn't hurt the demand for cool hats either !

KOKIN, renowned for his versatility, loves a good project.  He wants his work to not only be appreciated for all the special details that set them apart from other collections, but also to be worn and enjoyed for years.  “I wish to respect the rules and at the same time break them,” KOKIN admonishes.
Working very closely with reknowned photographers KOKIN has done numerous projects with the master behind the lens , Howard Schatz - believe it or not KOKIN's creations have been photographed under water by the award winning genius .

“I have always believed that a woman’s taste may change, but her style should remain eternal.”  A philosophy to live by as we move forward in the new century is how KOKIN defines his last quote.  “After all is said and done, a thing of beauty is timeless , a woman with style always has it …”

Back in the fall of 1996 KOKIN debuted his first Ready To Wear collection.  On the heels of Grunge, KOKIN’S use of cashmere jersey, duchess satin, and crocodile embossed cire and wool ottoman was ahead of its time.  The collection, all in black, brought about a division in the press.  Even the jewelry, also KOKIN designed, was in gunmetal and black jet.  For the show he created hats that looked like “Hairdos”.   They were comprised of velvet and jet woven “Hair Braids”, a sort of melding of the late Grace Kelly chic, and the very much alive Queen Latifah. The entire collection so ahead of its time, so exquisitely made, that women are still wearing the pieces and some have shown up on Vintage Couture websites.

While the American press did not receive all the ideas with open arms, the collection garnered enough attention in Europe to have KOKIN awarded with the coveted ‘Venus De La Mode Award’ for International rising fashion stars.

The year 2000 brought an unprecedented lucky streak to KOKIN.  Yet again his creativity was thrown into the spotlight!  In collaboration with award winning costume designer Dona Granata, KOKIN has outfitted the leading ladies and extras in the newest Robert Altman film' Dr. T & The Women'.  From beginning to end the film is a fashion show not soon to be forgotten.  All the women from Farrah Fawcett to Liv Tyler, Laura Dern, Janine Turner, Shelley Long and even Kate Hudson got to wear KOKIN creations.  Not to mention the 500 extras in the film during the pivotal wedding scene. KOKIN joined the roster of Designers Chanel, Escada, Armani and Brioni in making this one of the biggest contemporary fashion movies of the new century. Not surprisingly the actresses, and extras alike, had coveted the always chic and sometimes outrageous chapeauxs.  So much so, that they all bought the hats that made their image and KOKIN’s indelible in the eyes of the millions of movie-going fans. Yet again, as KOKIN continues to reinvent his formula of Hollywood glamour, we see the recognition of his style and creativity transcend into the new millennium.

The year 2001 brought yet again an unexpected honor.  The new First Lady Laura Bush commissioned a hat to coordinate with her Michael Faircloth ensemble for the Inauguration of her husband, President elect George W. Bush.  Much to the surprise of Mr. KOKIN, Mr. Faircloth, the press and the President himself, Mrs. Bush at the last minute decided not to don her new hat, due to the rain that saturated the event of the day!  The round of KOKIN press appearances both in the Newspapers coast to coast, cameos on CNN and Good Morning America that had preceded the event, continued on after inaugural day, when everyone called and wanted to know “where was the HAT?”  Even CNN did a follow up show.  KOKIN maintains, “A girl has the right to change her mind!

In 2002 KOKIN was named the official milliner of the Kentucky Derby.  An exciting event given that KOKIN himself has never attended the Derby.  “Every year the event falls on the big fall accessories market, and I can’t go,” he laments.  If you see KOKIN at the fabled races, he must be in retirement!

  Very New York as they say “very KOKIN” claims the man himself. “If my clients did not want to see me do these kinds of things for 21 fun and crazy years, I would have been out of this business a long time ago”!

The latest news for 2007 was that  KOKIN opened a fabulous boutique  on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, a love letter to all of his customers who wanted more  -There he has a laboratory of ideas that he can proffer to all the cool, discerning, sophisticated New York Chic girls, Ladies of style ,hip tourists and the newly indoctrinated hat customer . KOKIN has parlayed his talents beyond his Chapeaux and does one of a kind Couture headpieces , evening wraps , hair accessories, extraordinary belts and bags . Consider yourself lucky if he is there and personally fits you , you will never be the same .
He has even started to make extraordinary fine jewelry just for those in on the secret -KOKIN is on the loose and doing what he should have done long ago.........flying without a net in his prolific and always inspirational design heaven , New York City !!


And now a postscript :

Another new boutique for KOKIN ! In 2008 He has opened the first ever hat boutique in an airport -so now if you are flying out of Terminal 4 at JFK International airport and to exotic, Tahiti , Morocco , Israel, or London. Finally you can buy a KOKIN and run screaming onto the plane , and only now can you leave New York dressed and ready to meet head-on the exciting world looking very glamorous " very New York" and very KOKIN !