Skip to content
Two brands, two approaches to one question
If you've been reading about streetwear for long enough, you'll sooner or later encounter two names that evoke a similar reaction: "where can I get it?" These are Stone Island and Han Kjøbenhavn. Both brands have a strong identity, devoted fans, and unapologetic prices. But the paths they took to achieve their status are fundamentally different.
Stone Island: the language of materials
Founded in Italy in 1982 by Massimo Osti, Stone Island built its identity around a single idea: fabric as exploration. The compass badge on the sleeve is not just a logo; it's a signal: this garment has passed through a laboratory. Thermochromic dyeing that changes color with temperature. Nylon saturated with resin. Unconventional coatings that transform ordinary fabric into something previously non-existent.
Stone Island speaks the language of technology and material research. Each collection is primarily a question: what happens if we do this to the fabric?
Han Kjøbenhavn: the language of emotion and the street
Han Kjøbenhavn was founded in Copenhagen in 2008 by Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen — and started as an eyewear brand. Early on, the team transitioned to full-fledged ready-to-wear, and the brand grew into something much more: an autobiographical project about the children of concrete.
Davidsen doesn't design collections based on the question "what fabric?" — he starts with the question "what do I feel?". Suburban Copenhagen, where he grew up, basements and concrete, sounds and shapes — all of this translates into cuts, proportions, and collection names. SS25 — "Royals of Concrete." SS26 — "Another Day in Copenhagen." The AW25 "Concrete Born" show was both a collection and an artistic statement.
In 2022, Julia Fox came to the Oscars wearing a black leather Han Kjøbenhavn dress with a hand-shaped collar squeezing her throat. It became a viral moment — and a perfect illustration of how the brand knows how to provoke without empty sensationalism.
Comparison: where they are similar and where they diverge
Price and positioning
Both play in the premium segment. Stone Island — jackets from €300 to €1500+, classic blazers and sweaters from €200. Han Kjøbenhavn — basics from €110, statement outerwear up to €1745 for a leather bomber. Both justify the price not by the logo, but by the concept behind the item.
Audience
Stone Island traditionally attracts techies and collectors: people who care about how things are made. Han Kjøbenhavn draws closer to art-streetwear circles: people who care about feeling what's behind it.
Collaborations
Stone Island — Nike, Supreme, Converse, Roberto Cavalli. That is, big names, increasing accessibility. Han Kjøbenhavn — Puma, AIRTOX, New Era. More strategic and less mass partnerships, preserving niche appeal.
Democratization
In 2023, Han Kjøbenhavn made another unconventional move: launched a democratic ownership model, allowing fans to buy small shares of the brand. This turns buyers into co-owners — and explains why the brand feels "their own" to those who follow it.
Why Han Kjøbenhavn in NEWBORN K
At NEWBORN K, we select brands that have a thought behind them — not just a manufacturing process. Han Kjøbenhavn is a brand with its own language, its own geography, and its own way of looking at the street. Stone Island is big and established, but Han Kjøbenhavn is niche in the best sense: it's for those who know.
View Han Kjøbenhavn in NEWBORN K →
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where was Han Kjøbenhavn founded?
In Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2008. The brand was founded by Jannik Wikkelsø Davidsen, initially as an eyewear project, then as a full-fledged fashion brand.
How does Han Kjøbenhavn differ from Stone Island?
Stone Island builds its identity around material research and fabric technologies. Han Kjøbenhavn — around emotions, autobiographical storytelling, and Danish street culture. Both are premium, but with different languages.
Is Han Kjøbenhavn a luxury brand?
The brand is on the border between premium and luxury. Basic items from €110, statement-pieces up to €1745. It is an independent fashion brand with a distinct identity, not a mass market.
What audience does Han Kjøbenhavn attract?
Style-conscious people who appreciate storytelling and avant-garde. The brand finds its audience at the intersection of streetwear and contemporary fashion, among those who value the concept behind the item.
Where to buy Han Kjøbenhavn in Kyiv?
NEWBORN K — a concept store on Velyka Zhytomyrska St, 20. Online: newbornk.com/collections/han-kjobenhavn.
Summary
Stone Island is the answer to the question "how?". Han Kjøbenhavn is the answer to the question "why?". Both brands deserve a place in the wardrobe of someone who thinks about what they wear. But if we had to choose one, we'd choose the one that says something personal.
