Growth is often the marker of success, prioritized above all else, causing us to move forward without pause or reflection. But as I bid farewell for now and reflect on the past ten years of Kordal, what I'm most proud of isn’t the growth measured in numbers, but how we've grown our community, sustainability, creativity, and inclusion.. and how I've grown as a person.
Last year I grew something else. My son Asa joined our family in May of 2022 and it has moved me in ways I never imagined. It feels symbolic that Asa's arrival coincided with the 10 year anniversary of Kordal, a milestone my younger self never could have imagined back in 2012.
That 25 year old version of me was designing, prototyping and knitting every single sweater. I bought myself a used knitting machine that summer and with the help of some friends we filmed a kickstarter video and raised the initial funds to produce my first collection. Freelancing for other fashion brands by day and working on Kordal after hours and weekends. It was exhausting and wonderfully exciting all at once.
Which brings us to how we're moving forward. After more than a decade I've decided to close this chapter of Kordal and we will be taking an indefinite pause. Building Kordal has been the greatest gift and making this decision wasn't easy, but ultimately it felt right and I'm excited about the unknown path that lies ahead. I'm so incredibly grateful for the community we built over the years; the beautiful humans we empowered through clothing and the lifelong friendships formed.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support and love this past decade. It’s been an incredible ride and none of it would have been possible without you.
A couple of months ago we had the incredible honor of photographing Ilana Glazer for the Kordal Lived in Series!
Like many of us, I was introduced to Ilana through the genius of Broad City, a show that she and pal Abbi Jacobson created and starred in. For me, Broad City captured all of the strange, hilarious and soul-stirring parts of figuring out who you are in the weird and wonderful city of New York.
So when Ilana came to our Fort Greene shop last fall, we just about lost it! We shared that this year is Kordal's ten year anniversary and it would be such an honor to feature her in our Lived in Series to mark the occasion.
In our Lived in Series, we feature women that inspire us with their drive, talent and their genuine sense of self. It's women like Ilana that remind us of why we want to design clothing in the first place.
Fast forward a few months later and Ilana is rolling up to set in Crown Heights on her bike, and yes, she's just as cool and kind as you'd expect. She's generous with her time, has everyone cracking up and looks incredible in our knits - even on a humid 90 degree day. We got a chance to talk about pregnancy and healthcare, how styling informs her characters, and finding levity amidst existential challenges. We hope you enjoy the conversation!
The Celine tee, knitted In a beautiful blend of silk and alpaca, this classic tee has a distinct rib knit which perfectly molds to your body. We love the refined simplicity of this piece, accentuated texture, the slightly longer short sleeve, and the scoop neck. A fan favorite season after season it's officially part of our "Lived in Collection" which means it's so good we plan to keep it around for the long haul!
Shop the Celine TeeKordal Studio is a clothing brand that creates quality, responsibly made garments that exemplify the possibilities of sustainable design. All collections are designed and produced in an ethical manner by designing garments that are not trend focused; by using natural, organic, and recycled textiles; and by paying our workers a fair wage.