Krochet Kids Intl.: Buy a Hat & Change a Life
The simple act of crocheting is taking the worlds of fashion and charity by storm. Krochet Kids Intl. (KKi) is helping to fight poverty in areas where women are without jobs and cannot support their families. Since 2007, KKi has built its fashion line of handmade knitted beanies, caps, headbands and scarves by empowering women in Peru and Uganda to break the cycle and rise above poverty through crocheting.
While still in high school, Kohl Crecelius, CEO and co-founder of KKi, learned to crochet from his brother. After wearing his handmade creations while skiing and receiving compliments on his headwear, he then taught his two best friends Travis Hartanov and Stewart Ramsey the skill. The three started their own business selling their handmade goods to friends and classmates in high school. They were then dubbed the “Krochet Kids.”
After high school, Crecelius, Hartanov and Ramsey found themselves at different colleges but decided to continue their efforts after traveling around the world and seeing a change that needed to happen.
“We met communities of people living in poverty around the world and we saw first-hand how sometimes our ‘good intentions’ and donations had an adverse effect on people. They didn’t want more handouts; they wanted opportunity to change their own story. So that became our goal and we traveled to Uganda during the summer of 2007 to teach women how to crochet,” said Crecelius.
After many of these encounters, working with these people and helping them became their mission. “We exist to empower people to rise above poverty. Our goal is to equip individuals living in poverty with the tools, resources and knowledge to take control of their own future and be self-reliant individuals. Our products are the vehicles that enable this awesome cycle to happen,” Crecelius said.
Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., KKi received nonprofit status in 2008 and has continued to create cool fashion while making a difference. The chic and edgy beanies, caps, headbands, scarves and other accessories for men and women exude an earthy, comfy and trendy appeal that’s perfect to wear during any season. When consumers look inside their accessory they will discover the best feature of the product—a tag displaying the signature of the woman who hand-loomed the piece.
These urban fashion accessories have swiftly made their way onto some of the most popular shelves in the retail industry. Recently, KKi has even partnered up with Vans to release a crocheted version of the slip-on.
“When we first started we knew almost nothing about product design and sales, but we are now in some of the top retailers in the country, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters and Zumiez to name a few. However, what we are most excited about are the strides the women are taking in accomplishing their dreams. Mothers are providing for their families in Uganda and Peru; their children are in school; and their families are sleeping under bed nets. This is the real triumph of our work,” revealed Crecelius.
The KKi team is privileged to work with designers who understand that working women in other countries do not have access to complex machinery that can make any garment in minutes. The clean, modern aesthetic of the accessories adds a less-is-more look to the entire collection and is simple to crochet. “We have always wanted to create a brand that has an authentic community of supporters that believe in the product and the work that we are doing,” said Crecelius.
Today, there are over 170 workers in Uganda and Peru crocheting, receiving education and even being mentored toward a brighter future for themselves and their families.
“We actually operate and manage our project locations around the globe to ensure we are doing the most good and making the best product. We have over 170 beneficiaries who are earning a fair and consistent wage through the production of our collections, but we don't stop with just that. We offer education courses and one-on-one mentoring to help these women fully realize their dreams,” said Crecelius.
Crecelius and the entire KKi team continue to look to the future: “We have all kinds of new products that will be released throughout the year. We have a collection of bags and tech cases to be released in 2013, as well as more apparel. Keep an eye out for it because some of it will launch in the next couple months with the release of our Spring 2013 collection […] Get ready for an awesome Spring collection of products that includes much more than hats and scarves!” They are also getting amped up for a new shoe collection for men and women launching this summer.
Krochet Kids Intl. has created a trendy line of accessories, but also a sustainable cycle of hope, employment and empowerment. After all these years and many threads of yarn, their charitable message is still clear as can be: buy a hat, change a life.
To learn more about Krochet Kids Intl., visit www.KrochetKids.org and check out their Facebook page for updates.
Tagged in: lux exclusives, causes, scarves, hats, headbands, crochet, peru, beanies, uganda, krochet kids,
LadyLUX via Krochet Kids Intl.
