Spotlight: Kohl Crecelius
The Heart Series sat down with Kohl Crecelius to find out how he got started, what he’s up to, and what makes him tick.
What inspired you to create Krochet Kids Intl? And then Known Supply, and why now?
Our brands exist to empower makers globally through meaningful work. We started in 2007 by teaching a group of women in Uganda how to crochet, and over the last 10 years we’ve blossomed into an entire lifestyle brand with multiple production facilities. KNOWN SUPPLY is the next evolution of our work where we plan to involve the apparel industry at large and create greater awareness around the human stories behind the clothing we all wear. We believe it’s time.
What is the biggest challenge you currently face with running both companies?
A lot of people think we have a larger staff than we actually do. Instead of running a single company, we are now managing multiple brands and we have to be very diligent to focus on what’s most important and not overextend ourselves.
What brings you the greatest joy?
Hands down, it is witnessing stories of transformation for the women and families we work with globally. Individuals who were formally impoverished and had little prospect for their future, are now sending their children through university and owning their own businesses. A close second for me is seeing the growing number of people and brands producing truly ethical products!
Talk about the importance of collaboration, working as a socially conscious company.
Collaboration has meant everything to us. A single partnership accomplishes so much especially when it comes to building your brand. You are reaching new audiences, stretching your product and design perspective, and you get to help expose other brands to the power of ethical and transparent production. It’s impacts are far reaching!
What other socially conscious companies do you learn from and/or admire?
Here’s the short list and I’ll categorize it by people who share our heart for leading with impact when it comes to how they actually produce their items: The Giving Keys, Nisolo, Rose & Fitzgerald, 31 Bits, and Patagonia.
How do you live with heart in your personal life?
Friends and family are everything to me, especially now having a child. They all help to keep me grounded and rooted in who I actually am outside of the work that I do. It’s so important to know where our true identity lies. There’s danger in having that too closely (or entirely) overlap with our work, even if that work is about “social good”.
What’s next for Krochet Kids international, and Known Supply?
More of the above. Look for a lot of collaborations in 2018 and more powerful ways for how we plan to connect our customers with the actual makers of their garments. Stay tuned by following @knownsupply & @krochetkids online!