Let's Build a KINdom
Do you know the origin of our brand name, “KINDOM”? We are all made of the same elements of The Universe: The same building blocks in ourselves are found the stars, the sun, our planet; from trees and other plants to animals. We are all interconnected, we are all related, we are KIN to each other and all living things. This is why our branding motto is “humans + nature + balance = KINDOM”.
And because we are all one, human rights and environmental rights are also symbiotic. The Earth alone is about 4.55 billion years old, and so it took those billions of years to perfect the symbiotic balance of the ecosystem through evolution. Disruption of that balance is causing the climate crisis, and now the inequality and imbalance of humanity has created a global community crisis.
According to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, early humans first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago. They entered Europe somewhat later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years. Species of modern humans populated many parts of the world much later - first to Australia probably within the past 60,000 years, and to the Americas within the past 30,000 years or so.
And yet, millions of years later, how evolved & civilized are we? Today’s systems disguise modern slavery born out of, and still thriving from, colonialism; while the health and well-being of the people & the planet are compromised for capitalism, over-production, & over-consumption.
At KINDOM, our "humans + nature + balance" mission is to always be inclusive, be it our amazing environment (the Goldilocks Zone!) or the beautiful people of the world. The people we work with, we collaborate with because of their talent. From size, to gender, to race, to religion - inclusivity has always been at the heart of our work ethic as well as our designs, whether size-inclusive styles, gender-fluid clothing, or ageless apparel and accessories. In addition, we also work with indigenous artisans, who are the ones often overlooked when it comes to inclusivity, as their ancient crafts are copied by fast fashion to high-end brands.
"Design should have no discrimination, as with the rest of the supply chain," says our Founder, Claire Powers. This is how we satisfy up to 15 out of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on some of our products! Inclusivity and diversity is not a quota to fulfill, it's big part of KINDOM's DNA.
We are halfway through the year 2020. This Independence Day weekend marks the 244th year of independence from the then-tyranny of England. Looking back in 1776, a few months before the end of the Revolutionary War and the establishment of independence, Thomas Paine published "Common Sense" stating, "This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither they have fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster."
Today we are at a different time and faced with different kinds of challenges & monsters that threaten the environment and humanity. The question now is, how we are going to make changes and move forward to a better world? Consumers, corporations, and governments must take action now. This year, let's start practicing a more humanitarian and sustainable lifestyle (if not already), vote, let our voices to be heard, and make that change. Let's build a KINDOM.
Proceeds from sales for the entire month of July will benefit Sea Trees, an organization which supports Blue Carbon Projects that regenerate coastal ecosystems by drawing down carbon from the air, increasing biodiversity, and creating jobs & sustainable communities.