What is the story behind your company name?
With the world of almost 8 billion people, I wanted to create a sense of community & kinship, and more importantly, highlight & amplify the fact that we are all the same – composed of the same elements, the building blocks of the universe found in the stars and our planet, from plants to animals to each other. We are KIN, we are a KINdom.
How did you get started?
My journey to sustainability started because of babies. Many years ago after my sister had my niece, I started my first eco brand to try and make the world a better place for future generations, but it didn’t survive the 2008 economic crash. After the birth of my child, I felt the same. I didn’t want to go back to the polluting and exploiting industry that is fast fashion, so I started my second eco brand, which is KINdom. Babies are an inspiration!
Is that your primary source of inspiration when creating?
My child inspires me to create as consciously, responsibly, ethically, and sustainably as possible. Once you have someone in your life that channels powerful unconditional love out of you, it needs to be manifested. The same goes for indigenous artisans – they are in the front lines of climate change, and their ancient traditions are being threatened. Supporting them ensures their cultures continue to be preserved & perpetuated, and we need them to survive as they hold the key to living sustainably in harmony with the world around us.
Love that! Do you have a favorite part of the maker process?
Upycling & collaboration with indigenous artisans and independent artists are my favorite part of the maker process. Creating something new from existing products is a lot more challenging than having carte blanche on raw materials and making something out of that, so upcycling is more fun for me, not to mention, more sustainable. As for collaborations, as individuals we can only do so much, but collectively, when visions and creations are combined, magic happens. That’s why the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #17, Partnership for the Goals, is so important – we can accelerate the good in the world when we work together.
Very true. What is a typical day like in the studio for you?
I wish I had more time to design and play with upcycling as well as indigenous materials (I have so many!). Since KINdom is a small business, I’m not only the maker, but also the marketing person, the accountant, the shipping department, sales, etc. So, most of the day is spent on the computer! But for the days that I get to create – I get lost in it, time doesn’t matter, and if not for alarms, I’d be in trouble!
It is easy to get lost doing something you love! What is a favorite item you have created?
My favorite piece that I currently created is my “Laguinda” skirt. I have some stock in reclaimed denim I got from deadstock which I designed into high-waisted shorts, hand- beaded with surplus beads. And I have some “malong” tubular textile handwoven by the Maguindanao & Iranun indigenous communities. I decided to revive the 80s yoke skirt, by cutting off the bottom part of the shorts, pleating the handwoven textile, and overlocking them together to create the “Laguinda” pleated yoke skirt. It’s both upcycled and indigenous at the same time! And moves so beautifully and elegantly as you walk!
We can’t wait to see in person! What do you love most about living in California?
I love California because within the State, there is so much to see in itself. You can go to the beach or check out the snow within a two-hour drive. We have the most beautiful and diverse National Parks, from Joshua Tree to Yosemite. And we also have a diverse community of people from different cultures around the world. This makes California so colorful to me, like a State with all colors of the rainbow (my child’s favorite “color”). Pasadena is the same, and a smaller version of that. In Old Town, you can get lunch at an Italian restaurant or have dim sum, then have ube ice cream for desert – all on the same street.
All great points. What did you miss most about in person events now that events are picking back up again?
I missed telling stories! There has been a disconnect between the product and the maker for long time, for about a hundred years now, since the Industrial Revolution. We have to go back to the mindset of the old ways, to think like the indigenous tribes, that each object has a maker & is part of each other - whether it’s a machine, a garment worker, an indigenous artisan, or Mother Earth creating something. This is why I talk a lot about the indigenous communities that I work with, or the effects of certain textile processing to the planet. So we can choose & consume wisely!
Do you have anything special that you will be bringing to Jackalope?
I am super excited to bring one-of-a-kind indigenous new designs, along with upcycled styles, and reclaimed clothing from dead stock, plus handwoven indigenous accessories, all in time for your holiday events and gifting needs.
Well I know we can’t wait to come shop your booth! Anything special you would like to add?
Would love to thank Jackalope and the community supporting small businesses & makers like me and others, so we can keep our mission alive, especially when it comes to helping others survive and make the world a better place at the same time. So proud to be part of the Fair Trade LA organization, and fulfilling up to 15 out of the 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. This is the future.
We can’t wait to see you in person this November 20th & 21st when Jackalope returns to Central Park, Pasadena.
Where to see more of KINDOM:
Website | kindomshop.com
Instagram | @kindomshop
