Making & Gathering: K Studio
When we first came across K Studio’s work, we were immediately charmed. It’s impossible not to be—hand-drawn shapes, animals, and faces, all a little askew, perfectly translated through embroidery onto linens. They’re sweet, evocative, and delightful.
It’s rare for home goods to elicit such joy, so we were curious to know more about the designer and the story behind our new favorite textile line. Founder and designer Shelly Klein, together with her mother Mary, runs the studio out of Grand Rapids. Shelley took some time to shed some light on K Studio for us.
How did you get started? What are your backgrounds?
I have a BFA in painting, and continue to create paintings and drawings as part of the creative process for K Studio. After graduating from college, I began taking on sewing projects to make extra money. Through my custom sewing work, I got connected with Herman Miller, which is headquartered just down the road from Grand Rapids, and began to work on custom showroom accessories and installations. It was through this work that I began experimenting with embroidery, and I really fell in love with it as a medium. I found that a stitched line fit in perfectly with the imagery and visual sensibility of the fine art I was making in my painting studio.
When I began to think about the possibilities of scale that could be achieved through creating embroidered works of art, it wasn’t long before I convinced my mother, Mary Klein, to join me and form K Studio. Mary spent most of her career in the contract furniture industry with a background in management and manufacturing. She provides the necessary business expertise to run K Studio efficiently allowing me to focus on design and marketing. It’s a perfect business partnership.
How do you embroider your designs on fabric?
Our product line consists mainly of textile items, all of which are designed and manufactured in our studio in Grand Rapids, MI. We run a commercial embroidery system similar to what would be used to embroider a company logo on a baseball hat or polo shirt. I create digital patterns for each product and we run them one at a time. It’s not new technology, but we are using it in a new way. It’s a medium that offers enormous flexibility and unlimited potential as a means to create artful items that reflect the care and craft of handwork, but can reach a much larger audience.
image What are your influences?
I’m influenced by art and artists, travel, fashion, graphic design… the usual stuff. Lately, I find myself drawn to images that evoke a reaction from my children. My husband and I have three-year-old twins whom I spend a lot of time with… I’m certain they have influenced my work in ways I don’t even realize.
Tell us a little about the materials you use.
The products that Heath has selected use our flax material. It is not certified organic but we certainly look at sustainability when seeking out suppliers for all of our products.
Flax is a natural product that does not require irrigation during growth, and needs little or no chemical treatment. All parts of the plant are used, so there is no waste. Linen fabric is 100% biodegradable and recyclable. The environmental impact of spinning and weaving flax is virtually zero. The natural flax uses no dyes and only non toxic dyes are used for textiles that are colored. -Donna
