{"id":1821,"date":"2020-12-09T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-08-03T16:33:12","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T16:33:12","slug":"made-to-last-volume-3-kordal-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/made-to-last-volume-3-kordal-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"Made to Last Volume 3: Kordal Studio"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s an added benefit to keeping your mitts warm in a pair of our Kordal Mittens, crafted in partnership with our friends at Kordal Studio\u2014and it may not be one you expect. They\u2019re luxuriously warm, meticulously made, and<\/em> easy on the planet. Sustainability is a key part of Kordal Studio\u2019s philosophy\u2014 they use natural and upcycled textiles to create garments ethically, honoring the history, technique, and community of the craft.<\/span><\/p>\n

For founder and creative director Mandy Kordal, sustainability and quality are in lockstep. In a world full of disposable things, goods that are made to last are more sustainable by nature; they\u2019re less likely to wear out and be thrown away, and more likely to be donated or recycled. Sounds simple enough. But in order to make something that will be treasured for years to come, it has to be built that way.<\/span><\/p>\n

We interviewed Mandy to better understand how Kordal Studio makes garments worth treasuring. <\/span><\/p>\n

Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about the company and the products you make.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m the founder and creative director of Kordal Studio, a sustainable womenswear brand that launched in 2012. Our studio and shop is located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kordal Studio was born out of a desire to create sustainable clothing that\u2019s gentle on the environment and designed to be lived in. By using natural and upcycled textiles, producing with fair trade partners, and honoring traditional craft and culture we aim to create long lasting garments that provide comfort and sincerity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why did you decide to partner with Shinola?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Partnering with Shinola is such a perfect fit for our brand because we share the same ethics and values. I believe this is absolutely necessary for any kind of collaboration. I have so much respect for the design team and it\u2019s honestly been such a pleasure getting to work with them and design some beautiful products together. <\/span><\/p>\n

What particular challenges have you faced this year, in light of the virus? Has it made you think in new ways about your craft?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, we opened up our first brick and mortar store in December, so having to temporarily close for five months was probably the biggest challenge. Although we were very lucky to have an understanding landlord and an incredible customer base that truly supported us. It was humbling to see community support in action, I\u2019m so grateful for this, it\u2019s honestly a bit hard to put into words. <\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of how it made me think about my craft, it has just solidified my choice to be a small business, to not expand or scale for endless growth. In fact, it\u2019s made me take a few small steps back and slow down even more. I think everyone in the industry needs to evaluate the true cost of profit over above all else. <\/span><\/p>\n

How do you make something that lasts? Is it attention to detail, level of care, materials, methods, philosophies? What separates the good from the heirloom-worthy?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our design approach always begins with the materials and I truly think it\u2019s that tactile quality that makes a garment feel special and has the potential to be an heirloom-worthy piece. You can feel the difference between something that\u2019s made with a good quality fiber and something that isn\u2019t. I can\u2019t speak for everyone, but feeling good about the craftsmanship, ethics, and quality of a garment means you\u2019re going to take care of it. The other piece is sharing the story, I love talking about how our garments are made because we\u2019re so dang proud of it! I believe having a connection to the process, understanding all of the pieces that go into the making of that garment fosters a deeper appreciation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why go through all the trouble to make something that lasts?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I believe that if we want to continue living on this planet, it\u2019s imperative that the distinction between being a \u2018designer\u2019 and being a \u2018sustainable designer\u2019 becomes a thing of the past. Sustainability is an ongoing effort and a state of mind. We’re always looking for ways that we can do better \u2014 through materials we use, the artisans and workshops we work with, even the little ways in which we move throughout our days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do you ever envision the life your product will live once it\u2019s in a customer\u2019s hands?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I do! And I\u2019m so grateful to get photo updates from our customers from time to time! Seeing our pieces out in the world is one of the best parts of the entire process, knowing that they are providing someone warmth, comfort or strength is just incredible. <\/span><\/p>\n

We also recognize that at some point, our customers may need to part with their garment, and for this we offer a take back program to either resell gently worn items or recycle them in the best way possible. <\/span><\/p>\n

What hope do you have for every product you make?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our hope is that it will be loved, worn, and appreciated for the span of its lifetime. <\/span><\/p>\n

This piece is part of a Holiday 2020 series highlighting some of our favorite products and the American makers who craft them. It\u2019s our tribute to enduring, heirloom-worthy goods\u2014and a look inside at what it takes to build things the long way. This year especially, we are grateful for every pair of hands that go to work crafting the goods we offer, with skill, thoughtfulness, and intention.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s an added benefit to keeping your mitts warm in a pair of our Kordal Mittens, crafted in partnership with our friends at Kordal Studio\u2014and it may not be one you expect. They\u2019re luxuriously warm, meticulously made, and easy on the planet. Sustainability is a key part of Kordal Studio\u2019s philosophy\u2014 they use natural and upcycled textiles […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nMade to Last Volume 3: Kordal Studio - Our Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/made-to-last-volume-3-kordal-studio\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Made to Last Volume 3: Kordal Studio - Our Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There\u2019s an added benefit to keeping your mitts warm in a pair of our Kordal Mittens, crafted in partnership with our friends at Kordal Studio\u2014and it may not be one you expect. 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