COFFEE WITH
KIKA VARGAS: “YOU CAN WAIT FOR A SIGN, BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR IT”
Name: Kika Vargas
Profession: Fashion Designer
Nationality: Colombian
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Instagram: @kikavargas_
This Coffee With is an adaptation of Episode 17 of The Latinness Podcast featuring Colombian designer Kika Vargas. This interview is the third in a trilogy presented by Cartier, celebrating 100 years of the iconic Trinity collection—a lasting symbol of love, friendship and fidelity. In this series, we explore the stories of three extraordinary creatives whose work and lives embody these values.
In 2011, fresh out of school and holding a coveted position at the renowned Italian fashion house Missoni in Milan, Colombian designer Kika Vargas made what many considered a bold decision: returning to her home country to launch her own brand, produced entirely in Colombia. More than a decade later, Kika is a recognized name among international luxury retailers and the most discerning consumers.
Below is an excerpt from our conversation with Kika, where she shares her journey to becoming a globally recognized brand. She talks about the challenges and lessons that shaped her career, reflects on the unique dynamic of building a business alongside her partner, and discusses how she emerged stronger after a brief professional hiatus.
Images by Andres Oyuela
On the lessons from Missoni that shaped her career.
KIKA: My time at Missoni left a huge mark on me. In University, I was taught that collections should have at most six or seven colors, but when I started at Missoni, an Italian brand so full of color, that completely changed. Suddenly, we had to work on collections with 50, 60, or even 70 colors.
Missoni’s use of color is extensive and playful, and that freedom to create with so much color had a big impact on my brand. When you look at our prints, we use millions of colors, millions of solids—we mix everything. That ease and confidence in working with a wide range of colors come from my time at Missoni. That was one of the biggest lessons I took from the brand.
The second lesson is closer to my heart. Missoni is a family-run business, now in its fourth generation. It was such a beautiful experience to be around Ottavio, Rosita, Angela, and Angela’s siblings, and to witness how they treated the brand as a family.
That is one of the most meaningful things I took away from my time working with them. Today, whenever I speak with my team, when we welcome a new member, or when we go through our daily workflow—both in the highs and the lows—I remind everyone that at Kika, we are a family. No one is above or below anyone else. We are all part of a strong and beautiful family…
The big leap into competitions.
KIKA: I’d say the LVMH Prize was our tipping point. It gave us the recognition that put us on the international map very quickly—for better or worse. I’m a strong believer in competitions; I enjoy the challenge. I see them as an opportunity to analyze myself as a person, as a creative, as a team, and as a company. That’s why I always seek out these kinds of challenges—not necessarily for the recognition, but because the journey itself matters more than the actual prize.
I had been following the LVMH Prize since its inception, but I never felt ready. I didn’t apply for years; instead, I kept analyzing why I wasn’t applying… I still had more to do. At the time, I felt there was a lack of creativity in the brand, that we needed to grow, and that our DNA had to be stronger. I felt I needed to find more in what I was designing, so I kept postponing it.
Then came the moment when I said: “Okay, I think we’re ready to apply.” After going through the process and getting confirmation that we had been selected, the questions started: How are we going to approach the competition? What will it be like? The experience reminded me a bit of races or marathons. When you sign up, you start questioning, for example, how you’re going to prepare for race day. And preparation is almost more important than the day you actually run—you need to ensure proper nutrition, rest enough, and train consistently.
I apply the same mindset to Kika: I ask myself, What are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? Where do we need to improve? That’s why I find these competitions so valuable. I always encourage everyone, especially designers, to take on this kind of exercise…
A family business.
KIKA: [Working as a couple] isn’t necessarily for everyone, but when you have that kind of relationship, it’s amazing. I’ve talked about this with many people, and I find it really special because when my dad met Tito, he told me we should work together. That was years ago. It’s beautiful that he saw it before we did.
In my case, I also believe in following the green lights—it’s something very important to me, to pay attention to the signs that life gives you. Life presents them, but sometimes you ignore them or don’t give them the relevance they deserve at the moment, for various reasons. In our case, life kept guiding Tito and me toward doing this together.
Tito was one of the first to believe in international expansion. He supported me the most—financially, emotionally, in every way. The journey kept bringing us closer. Of course, we’ve created our own rules, which I think happens in any job. When you’re an entrepreneur, you have to set your own rules of the game. What works for the company doesn’t necessarily work for you personally, so you have to be very aware of what’s best for you.
What advice would I give to people who work with family or their spouses? For me, it’s essential not to talk about work at home—you have to stop until the next day. Obviously, that rule sometimes gets broken because it’s hard to follow, but we try.
When we started working together on the brand, we identified that we were two separate teams. Yes, we’re partners, but we belong to different teams. I’m part of the creative team, while he handles the back office—finances and those operational roles. We make sure to stick to this structure. He has his team, I have mine, and each functions separately. We’re together, but not mixed.
That’s a key tip: clearly define each person’s role and avoid stepping into the other’s domain. Respect each other’s decisions and opinions.
To listen to the full conversation, click here.
