Kira Kids

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Kira Kids, Entrepreneur

Today, we have the pleasure of showcasing one of Silicon Valley's many entrepreneurs. But in this case, a children's fashion designer instead of an app maker! Christine Tang is the founder and designer of Kira Kids, an imaginative and whimsical line of children's tees, dresses, shorts, cardigans, and sweaters. Christine transformed her living room and garage into an office space + warehouse, and it was so inspiring to sit down and hear her story.

In 2010, Christine put together her love for craft and knowledge of screen printing to create Kira Kids. Christine faced ups and downs, but eventually, she drew success out of her vision. Today, Kira Kids is sold in hundreds of stores and is popular among moms and kids alike. Each Kira Kids piece is made in Downtown Los Angeles. While other brands create their pieces from wholesaled clothing, Kira Kids is made from custom fabrics and non-toxic inks!

In 2011, Christine made the bold decision to leave her day job to focus on Kira Kids. This is one of the struggles of many entrepreneurs - leaving safety for risks. But her decision has been the best yet, she says. Kira Kids is not just a brand, it's a lifestyle. "I want kids to feel like themselves and be happy while wearing Kira. I want them to jump, nap, dance, laugh, and explore comfortably! I would love them to feel inspired to be more creative, have a sense of humor, and not grow up so quickly."

We even had a sneak peek of the AW 14 collection that Christine is working on. It's the pretzel design you see above... We are so excited, because everything looks so wonderful. On top of her amazing designs, Christine is truly inspiring. She works hard, and all she wants to do is to encourage kids to be themselves in Kira.

Now, we are wishing we had a Zooey Kids magazine right about now, because Kira Kids is definitely on our radar.

Learning to Letter

Calligraphy, Zooey Magazine Calligraphy, Zooey Magazine

Calligraphy, Zooey Magazine

Calligraphy, Zooey Magazine

A few weeks ago, our contributor Rebecca Caridad held her first group calligraphy workshop. She invited seven lovely ladies to come to her home to enjoy treats, refreshments, and to learn the basics of modern calligraphy. In the two-hour workshop, they went over over letter structure, spacing, and how to develop their own style of calligraphy. They practiced the alphabet and moved on to words to review how to connect letters. It's a great way to not only mingle, but master a new craft - especially something that takes some patience and a group of gal pals.

Photographs by Rebecca Caridad for Zooey Magazine