SHOP STORIES: KORDAL

This weekend we travel to Brooklyn, New York to meet Mandy and her store Kordal Studio . In 2012, Mandy decided to launch her own company with a mission: to create quality, responsibly made garments that exemplify the possibilities of sustainable design. Kordal is much more than a brand or a store, they are collections designed and produced ethically through timeless garment design and using natural, organic and recycled textiles. Today Mandy opens the doors of her store and invites us to discover more of her beautiful world.

N.: How would you define yourself? (A brief explanation about yourself)

M.: I am a clothing designer living in upstate New York. I love being outdoors, taking long walks with my dog, and working from my garden. Those are some of the things that make me the happiest! I grew up mostly on the East Coast of the country, but we used to move around quite a bit, so I developed a knack for adapting to different places. I was born on the summer solstice, and I guess that makes me especially drawn to the summer months, swimming in the lake, fresh fruit, and sunny days are my joy. I am inspired by dance, film, and textiles. Art in general! I love the Batsheva Dance Company and the work of artist Lenore Tawney. I am passionate about creating things by hand, collaborating with other people, and seeing how projects connect and connect you.

N.: Do you remember when you opened Kordal? Could you tell us the story that led to the opening of your own business?

M.: I started the company in 2012 from my apartment in Brooklyn. At the time, I was working as a designer and was feeling disenchanted with the current fashion industry. The amount of waste and the lack of connection to the entire process of making the garments was discouraging. It was during this period that I bought a 1970s knitting machine. It was quite curious, because it looked more like a keyboard than a knitter. With it, I started making my first prototypes and a couple of months later I was already selling a small collection of garments to a few local shops. Over the years, the business grew and I found wonderful suppliers to commission the productions so I could focus on designing and moving the business forward. In November 2019, we opened the store and right after that, the pandemic presented us with a huge challenge. Still, the store has helped us generate a great sense of community and has given us the opportunity to create a space in which we can develop our vision of the fashion that we support.

N.: I'm sure there is a moment as an entrepreneur that you will always remember….

M.: Opening our store is one of those moments I will always remember. It was so rewarding to see everything come together and take shape after building a business from scratch, putting in a lot of time and working really hard. Peeling off the vinyl backing from the sign was a really special moment for me. I was so grateful and surrounded by an amazing team.

N.: What do you think Naguisa's philosophy brings to Kordal? And to your clients?

M.: Usability! Naguisa’s style is cool and unique, but the best part is that all of your designs are adaptable to everyday wear. Whether you’re walking around the city or hiking in the woods. Plus, the Naguisa at Home collection feels like an extension of Kordal’s knitwear collection.

N.: How would you define working with the Naguisa team? For you, that is what makes us different.

M.: The team at Naguisa is lovely! They make everything smooth and easy. They are always happy to send us beautiful images or additional information. Their packaging design is wonderful as they have carefully designed it to eliminate the need for additional bags. Every detail of the brand seems to be thought out to enhance the shopping experience.

N.: Of all our designs to date, which one is your favorite?

M.: My favorite by far is the Abra boot in brown, I wear them almost every day. Jia Yee, our Director of Production and Design loves the Azimut in green and never takes them off either. In fact, everyone on our team bought a pair of Naguisa shoes this fall!