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An innovative line that combines fashion with hair care may have solved the problem of hat hair once and for all.
With baseball caps, beanies, and hoodies all lined with satin instead of snagging fabrics, the founder promises you can get the look you want without sacrificing your hairstyle.
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Chin clothing CEO Philomina Kane29, was struck by this idea when she began embracing her natural hair in college.
“I started my freshman year at Princeton University and I realized it cost $100 to get my hair done there, which I didn’t have as a freshman in college,” Kane told The US Sun.
Kane decided to get a major haircut to give herself a fresh start, but her hair wouldn’t cooperate with certain hairstyles.
“I discovered that no hoodie or hat matched my hair,” the Bronx, New York, resident said.
In 2019, Kane introduced the first satin-lined hoodie to address her wardrobe woes.
According to Kane, the materials that hoodies are typically lined with, such as cotton, draw moisture from the hair.
Satin, on the other hand, ensures that the style remains intact.
FANS ‘WAITED 60 YEARS FOR THIS’
Kin Apparel has now grown into a much larger brand with rave reviews from customers, which Kane says she enjoys reading.
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“There was a woman who said, ‘I’ve been waiting 60 years for this,’” recalls Kane, who now lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“It was an older woman, in her 60s, she was wearing a hoodie and she had huge curls.
“They were silver now. And it was just so beautiful.
“And the hood fit her head perfectly, because we make our hoods big enough to fit the target audience we reach here.”
Kane remembers the reviews from customers who had been looking for a product like hers for years.
“Some people said, ‘Where has this been all my life? Why did it take so long for this to happen?’” she said.
“A lot of people say, ‘This is genius.’”
Her creations are not only a hit with the customers around the corner, she also has a number of celebrity fans.
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“Trevor Noah has worn our clothes a few times,” she said. “He loves our hoodies.”
Other fans include NBA player Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Good American CEO and Skims founder Emma Grede.
FOR THE ‘BIG HEAD COMMUNITY’
Kin Apparel grew with the seasons, also introducing satin-lined beanies and visors for the warmer months when hoodies aren’t an option.
The headgear is also waterproof, making it ideal for wearing against the elements while protecting your hair.
Our hats come in small, medium, large and extra large sizes. The extra large sizes are always sold out, even though we make thousands.
Philomina Kane
She said she wanted to take it one step further and produce the hats in sizes that would fit all head and hair sizes.
“I always say we appeal to the community of people with big heads,” she said.
“Our hats come in sizes small, medium, large and extra large. The extra large sizes always sell out, even though we make thousands of them.
“That community couldn’t find a hat that fit their hair for so long.”
TRAVEL MUST-HAVE
Kane also added accessories to the line, including a satin pillowcase in the shape of a bonnet that slides over any pillowcase, just like a bonnet would fit over the head.
While the product can also be used for hair care on the go, Kane quickly saw its versatility.
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The pillowcase is stretchy enough to accommodate much larger items, meaning customers can use it for everything from work and gaming chairs to airplane headrests.
“It’s very convenient and that was the inspiration,” she said.
SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS
Kane’s products were also featured on the TV show Shark Tank, where she was called “too creative.”
“I see it as a compliment. It’s good, creativity has brought me this far,” she said.
She makes sure that her products remain true to their name.
“KIN is an acronym for ‘keep it naturally’, a play on my YouTube name NaturallyPhilo“, she explained.
“Every time I ended a video I said, ‘See you next time on NaturallyPhilo, keep it natural.’
“I spent six years making hair care videos on YouTube, building my community and eventually calling them the Kinfolk.
“Although KIN is an acronym, the name also means family, community, something the brand cherishes because it is a brand built on the Kinfolk.”
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