Juan Iskandar

There's a designer working out of Montreal who doesn't sketch clothes—he sketches worlds. Juan Iskandar, the founder and creative director behind KOH Montreal, born in Borneo and raised in Bali with a head full of Balinese stories. The kind of stories where guardian spirits like the Barong fight off darkness, where ancient textiles carry the weight of entire civilizations, and where every thread has a job to do. He took all of that—the folklore, the weaving traditions, the spiritual grit—and funnelled it into a luxury fashion house that plays by its own rules.Juan Iskandar doesn't chase seasonal trends. He doesn't mass-produce.

He builds garments the way someone might build a legacy: slowly, deliberately, with his hands deep in the fabric and his mind fixed on what fashion could become if it stopped being wasteful and started being meaningful. From his Montreal atelier, he crafts made-to-measure pieces that sit at the crossroads of Balinese heritage and Western couture, each one carrying a story that stretches from the islands of Indonesia to the streets of Quebec. He's picked up recognition along the way but titles and trophies aren't what drive him. What drives him is the belief that a garment can honour a culture, protect the planet, and make someone feel extraordinary, all at the same time

Journey Begins: Meet Juan Iskandar

Journey & Genesis

Juan Iskandar's path to fashion wasn't a straight line. It was more like the winding rivers of Bali—unexpected turns, deep currents, and a destination that only made sense once he arrived. Growing up between two cultures shaped everything. In Montreal, he absorbed Quebec's creative restlessness, that hunger for artistic expression the province is known for. At home, his parents kept Indonesian traditions alive—the colours, the patterns, the oral histories passed down through generations. Juan Iskandar sat between those two worlds, and instead of choosing one, he decided to stitch them together.

Gone are simple sketches in his process; in their place stand illustrations that breathe life and imagination, turning raw ideas into what he calls "visual symphonies of style and grace." He learned early that fabric isn't just material—it's a canvas. And a garment isn't just clothing—it's a narrative waiting to be worn. That understanding became the foundation of KOH Montreal. What made things real was the grind. Juan Iskandar launched during the pandemic, when supply chains buckled and the luxury market had little patience for newcomers talking about sustainability. Sourcing ethical materials during lockdowns? Nearly impossible. Convincing clients that a higher price tag meant a healthier planet? An uphill climb.

But he pivoted. He partnered with Quebec-based artisans skilled in upcycling, traded international dependency for hyper-local production, and turned textile shortages into creative fuel—innovating with recycled-bottle fabrics and zero-waste pattern cutting techniques that eliminated off-cut waste entirely. Costs dropped by twenty percent. The eco-narrative got sharper.Then came the storytelling. Juan Iskandar started sharing Balinese folklore through virtual sessions and social media—not as a marketing ploy, but as an invitation. He opened the door to his world, and people walked through it.

A community formed. Clients stopped buying garments and started investing in stories. Every thread, as Juan Iskandar sees it, tells one. A narrative of collaboration, of deep connections forged between brand managers, executives, and the people who wear his work. He listens before he designs. He observes before he cuts. In an industry that moves at breakneck speed, Juan Iskandar stands as someone who reads the current before it surfaces, curating looks that lead rather than follow. The 2024 International Design Award brought wider eyes to the brand.

Collaborations with multicultural creators followed. The real genesis—the moment KOH became KOH—happened quietly, in the atelier, when Juan Iskandar proved that adversity and creativity aren't opposites. They're partners.

Canvas & Creed

Juan Iskandar's design philosophy lives under what he calls his Canvas and Creed—a set of creative principles that govern everything from how he handles silk to why he refuses to cut corners on ethics. It's part artistic manifesto, part moral compass, and it touches every garment that leaves the KOH Montreal atelier.

High Couture with a Conscience

At its core, KOH Montreal operates as a high couture house. But Juan Iskandar redefined what that means. High couture, for him, isn't just about exquisite construction and rarefied materials—it's about responsibility woven into every decision. Each piece starts with GOTS-certified organic textiles or upcycled fabrics, selected because they meet the world's strictest environmental and social standards: no toxic chemicals, proper wastewater treatment, fair labour throughout the chain. The garments are cut using zero-waste pattern techniques, where every centimetre of fabric finds a purpose. Nothing hits the floor. Nothing hits the landfill. This is slow fashion in its truest form—counter to the assembly-line pace of fast fashion, built on quality, timeless design, and ethical production that honours the hands doing the work.

Artistic Vision and Cultural Heritage

Juan Iskandar treats fabric the way a painter treats a blank canvas. His artistic vision blends tradition and modern elegance with a level of detail that borders on obsessive. He navigates the rich tapestries of Indonesia's diverse cultures—over a thousand islands, each with its own distinct identity—and brings them alive through his work. Bali's ancient textile traditions. Java's iconic Batik patterns. Sumatra's royal heritage. These aren't decorative afterthoughts; they're structural elements of the design, intricately woven into every creation. The Tenun weaves that appear in his garments carry centuries of Indonesian storytelling. The Barong motifs stitched into sustainable fabrics turn fashion into something protective, almost spiritual. Juan Iskandar doesn't borrow from these traditions—he belongs to them, and his work becomes a living testament to Indonesia's cultural richness meeting Quebec's creative freedom.

The Handmade Approach

Every KOH piece is handcrafted. Juan Iskandar's artisan touch runs through the entire process—from the initial illustration to the final stitch. He pays meticulous attention to the elements that define a silhouette: trimmings, shoulder treatments, waist shaping, sleeve construction, skirt lengths and widths. These aren't assembly-line garments; they're experiences built by hand, carrying the kind of sophistication and tactile depth that only human craftsmanship can deliver. He works with texture the way a musician works with sound—layering silk against embroidery, balancing the softness of organic fibres with the structured weight of upcycled materials. The result is garments that people don't just see but feel, where the artistry is literally woven into every fibre.

Minimalism, Glam, and Everything Between

Juan Iskandar's range is broader than most expect. His minimalist work strips design down to its essence—clean lines, restrained colour palettes, functional durability—creating pieces that outlast trends by decades. His glam work goes the other direction entirely: opulent, extravagant, dripping with the kind of bold illustration-driven detail that turns a gown into a statement. Both share the same backbone: classic elegance touched by modern refinement, and a commitment to circular economy principles that keep materials in use through reuse, repair, and closed-loop thinking. Whether he's building a bridal piece for a grand wedding, styling a high-profile photo shoot, or crafting hairpieces that fuse Indonesian tradition with contemporary flair, Juan Iskandar approaches each project as a collaboration. He listens. He adapts. He shapes the vision alongside the client, never imposing but always guiding.

Creed: The Non-Negotiables

Behind the canvas sits the creed—the values Juan Iskandar refuses to compromise on. Sustainability isn't a branding exercise at KOH; it's the operational foundation. Circular economy principles guide every garment from inception to end-of-life: resale programs, rental options, and repair services ensure that nothing is disposable. Biodegradable fabrics enter the conversation wherever possible. Recycled-bottle textiles replace virgin synthetics. Transparent wage audits and artisan training programmes keep the human side of production honest and fair. Juan Iskandar builds fashion that accounts for where it came from, who made it, and where it goes after the last wear. That's the creed. It doesn't bend.