Kordal Family ~ Carolina Grau
For the Kordal Family Series we'll be catching up with the amazing women and men we've been fortunate to work with over the years. It's been so incredible to see how these relationships develop over time. Starting from a point of business, we slowly learn more about one another and develop a shared trust and friendship.
To start off the series we'll be catching up with Carolina Grau, owner of Revolution Knits, a knitwear development and production company in Lima Peru that focuses on sustainability and zero-waste. We've been working together for the past five years and her expertise and design eye has been crucial to the development of our company, we are so grateful for her friendship and business. To learn a little bit more about Carolina, read our Q&A below! Trust me you want to read this, there is an amazing Pisco Cocktail recipe she shares that will change your life!
You've just started your own design and manufacturing company which is really exciting, I know one of the main components is incorporating dead stock yarns, can you tell us a little bit about this, what is the process and how can that increase creativity?
I have been working on product development and production for about 15 years and I am really lucky to love what I do. At the same time, I had become really interested in living zero waste or at least trying to be as zero waste as possible! I felt that what I did for a living and my values were not aligned, so I have started my new company with trying to be as circular and zero waste as possible. Using deadstock was the most inmidiate way of making productions zero waste. Every company struggles with deadstock so It is easy for me to access the wharehouses of fellow factories, production businesses and yarn mills. There are real treasures there!
It is a way for small designers to be able to use yarns with high minimums, or special colors. And for the companies to move their stock.
I hope to implement more zero waste systems as my company grows and I can invest more in technology and logistics.
Last fall you had the chance to work one on one with a skilled weaver, what was that experience like?
I have worked with this talented Weaver before, but we had never met. I travelled to Juliaca for several days to meet him in person and work with him. It was incredible! I even learned to use the loom! My background is in knitting so learning new things and always exciting. Also, meeting people face to face changes the whole relationship and work dynamic. The distance between Lima and Juliaca is a challenge but we figure it out!
What do you enjoy most about your work and living in Lima?
Lima is my city. I am a limeñan born and raised. All my family lives here and I still hang out with some of my school friends. I love the familiarity and how comfortable I feel here. Also, I feel so many creative and interesting things are happening at the moment. Peru had such a difficult political and economical situation in the 80’s and 90’s, that it was like in pause. Now everything is thriving, so many people are doing things, staying in Peru, investing their talent and energy here. It’s exciting to witness and be a part of it.
The thing I like the most about my work is that it let’s me merge a lot of the different aspects of my country, tradition with innovation, artisanship with fashion, old world with modern world. I also get to work with incredible people that are like guardians of the craft . I help them to get their talent around and make a living, they help me to materialize my ideas and make a living ;)
How did you become interested in design and specifically knitwear?
I have always liked making garments. My mom is an incredibly talented seamstress and knitter and both my grandmothers were sowers (not sure how you write this) and knitters, so yarns, fabrics and needles were always around. I designed and made my own clothes (mostly my mom did, jajajaja) since I was a teenager. The funny thing is that I never considered it as a career possibility. It wasn’t until I dropped out of college (I was going to study law!!) that I considered fashion. My first job was at a knitwear factory, it was love! I have been passionate about sweater making since. I really enjoy figuring out how to make ideas become garments. I feel very lucky to have a work I truly enjoy.
You make one of the best Pisco drinks I've ever had, can you share that recipe with us?
I am glad you liked Chilcano! I love Pisco in all it’s forms, but one of my favorites is Chilcano. It is Pisco, ginger ale, ice and lime. I don’t really use any specific proportions, just put in the ice, pour the Pisco about 1/3 of the glass. Add the ginger ale, and finish with lime juice. Adjust proportions to taste. This is the perfect beach drink.
I know you have two sweet kitties at home, can you tell us a little about them?
My cats are named Fausto and Segundo. Fausto is black and has been my roommate for about 6 years and Segundo joined the family about a year ago. Both are super hairy and really loving, so I am always covered with cat hair, no matter what the color of my clothes are. I love cats and work in knitting, I am totally a crazy cat lady cliche!
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