The power of silence –
How the grandmother of designer Katie Ji continues to influence LU REN to this day
On International Women's Day, we turn our attention to women whose influence is often quiet but lasting. To those whose strength does not need to be in the spotlight to be felt. For the founder of LU REN, this story begins with her grandmother – a woman whose attitude, values, and presence continue to shape the foundation of the brand to this day.
“My grandmother showed me what true strength means,” she says. “She was never loud or domineering. Her strength was quiet, dignified, and deeply rooted.”
A strength that didn't need to prove its existence – and was all the more convincing for it. This understanding of self-confidence accompanies Katie Ji to this day: in her life, in her leadership, and in the way she thinks about fashion.
Memory as an attitude
The brand name is more than just a melodious label.
LU REN means “to remember” in Chinese. Remembering one's origins, values, and quiet lessons that need to be passed on. “The name is a tribute to my grandmother,” she says. “But also to everything she stood for: authenticity, grace, and inner strength.”
Each garment thus becomes a bearer of memory. Not nostalgic, but conscious. As a connection between the past and the present. The brand sees itself as a continuation of an attitude—not a break. “LU REN is my way of keeping her with me. Her presence is woven into every piece.”
Style without volume
Grandmother's style was timeless, understated, and characterized by quiet elegance. She loved soft materials and clean silhouettes, nothing excessive, nothing loud. For her, clothing was not a trend, but a feeling. “It was never about what was fashionable,” recalls Katie Ji. “It was about how a garment felt: comfortable, confident, composed.”
This attitude continues to shape the brand's creative vision today. Clothing should accompany, not dominate. It should leave room for personality, movement, and life.
Rituals that remain
One of her most vivid memories is surprisingly unspectacular: the careful folding of knitwear. Almost ritualistic, with respect for the material. “She never treated clothing as something replaceable,” she says. “For her, things had meaning.”
It is precisely this awareness that flows into every design today. Clothing as something that stores emotions, accompanies moments, and becomes part of a personal story. A counterpoint to the fast pace of life.
Her way of speaking—or rather, of remaining silent—has also left its mark. “She spoke little. But when she said something, it carried weight.” A clarity that didn't have to be loud. An attitude that also shapes the way the founder leads today: calm, focused, without unnecessary noise.
Gentle strength
The women LU REN designs for are women who don't need to be loud to be seen. Women who take responsibility, build, nurture, lead—often quietly. The strength of her grandmother lives on in the softness of cashmere, in clean lines, in the conviction that elegance and strength are not opposites.
What would her grandmother say today if she could see this path? “I think she would be proud that I stayed true to myself,” she says. “That I built from the heart – not just from ambition. And that I prioritized depth over speed.”
A MESSAGE TO WOMEN
If there was one message her grandmother would pass on today, it would be this:
“Stay gentle—but never make yourself small.”
WOMEN'S DAY AS A REMINDER AND RESPONSIBILITY
For founder and designer Katie Ji, International Women's Day is more than just a celebration. It is a moment of gratitude—and responsibility.
“It's about recognizing the quiet strength that is so often overlooked. The emotional labor, the resilience, the grace that women carry every day.”
It is also a look at the line of women before us – and those who come after us. Remembrance as an obligation. And as an invitation to create spaces where quiet strength can be visible.
Womens's Day
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