32 MAY 2016 MARIN
MADE BY MARIN
Kin/K
IF YOU WAN T your outfit to make a statement, don’t splurge on a dress or a suit; get some mileage for your money with an acces- sory. By their nature, multipurpose accessories make the biggest impression — and none do a better job of this than hats. Of course, buying local is always advisable and your optimal topper isn’t
far away with Kin/K in the neighborhood. T win sisters Sara Brady and
Ashley Cornil, California natives, are the brand’s co-founders, and they
incorporate visions from their world travels, as well as architecture and
landscapes, in Kin/K designs. Passionate about hats from an early age, the
sisters blend age-old craftsmanship with modern designs and touches to
create a truly unique look in their Sausalito studio. PHILOSOPHY Kin/
K’s mission is to rejuvenate the craft of millinery and to bring hats and
their history back into the forefront. “Hat making is a very romantic
process,” Cornil says. “Hats are one of the oldest found clothing pieces
in history, dating back to 3,000 B.C.” Brady and Cornil nod to the past by
using wood hat-making blocks dating back to the early 1900s, but add their
signature Marin-designed accessories to help modernize a classic shape.
THE SCOOP High-quality materials include precious metal, silk and handwoven panama straw. The sisters also favor uncommon juxtapositions of
textures and color in their designs. This kind of attention to detail takes
time: a single Kin/K hat can go through 90 steps and touch more than 60
hands before it reaches your head. Toppers range from $90 to $180 and are
offered in a variety of colors and styles. BEYOND MARIN Kin/K hats are
sold across the U. S., in a number of other countries, and through online
retailers. WHAT THE Y SAY “Though hats are a niche accessory, we saw
an opportunity in the market and decided to go for it,” Brady says. “ We
learned all we could about the history and process of making wool hats
and straw hats, and we fell in love with the blocking and finishing process.
Shortly thereafter, Kin/K was formed and a shop was set up in our garage.”
Cornil adds, “We were bound to start a creative business together. It was
just a matter of time.” kinkhats.com KASIA PAWLOWSKA
In Marin / CURRENTS
DADA/PUCKER, $196
JAGGER/NOVA
DEMI/PUCKER, $144
BIRKIN/GOLD
COLLAR, $146
Sara Brady (left)
and Ashley Cornil
