OUR STORY

KADIWA yearns for art to be inhabited. Inspired by the poetry of form, the rhythm of nature, and the intimacy of making — we create pieces that transform feeling into presence.

We have always been fascinated by the keepsakes people keep close. A garment worn until it becomes second skin. A detail remembered years later. A silhouette that lingers long after it has disappeared from view.

Fashion exists somewhere between object and memory. Between utility and desire. Between what is seen and what is felt.

This is where KADIWA resides.

FOUNDER: CHESKA TORRES IBASAN

Cheska Torres Ibasan is the mother and powerhouse of KADIWA. Born in the Philippines and shaped in Oakland, California, her art is informed by the intersection of cultures and ways of seeing the world. 

Much of her creation is inspired by the women who came before her — women who found elegance in the everyday and imagined leisure not as luxury, but as a form of joy and self-possession. Their stories continue to shape her fascination with clothing as both adornment and artifact: something that carries memory, identity, and meaning across generations.

Guided by a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, Cheska approaches each collection as an exploration of form, feeling, and cultural continuity. Her work draws inspiration from art, nature, her travels after graduating from UC Berkeley, and the enduring rituals that connect people across time and place.

Through KADIWA, she seeks to create pieces that are not only worn, but lived with — objects of affection that invite wonder, inspire connection, and become part of the stories we carry forward.