Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Kennimer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bonnie. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I’ve always had a passion for clothing and textiles. I think it’s the best way to express who you are. As a kid, I remember being fascinated with my grandmother’s wardrobe. She had so many beautiful detailed vintage pieces that I admired. I started with small projects like sewing buttons on my grandfathers work shirts when I was five or six years old.
They were pretty big fans of the Lawrence Welk Show and every Saturday night that’s what we watched, it was a huge influence on me. The outfits were always so incredible. Pastel suits and tulle dresses. I knew I wanted to make something like that one day.
The only sewing machine in the house was a 1960’s mint green Spartan that I still have and use often. As a teenager, I knew enough to alter my own clothes. I customized everything I had. I would be at home tapering my thrift store jeans while all the kids I went to school with were shopping at the mall. I loved it. I was confident in those clothes because I had really made them mine.
I worked different retail and office jobs for years trying to figure out what I wanted to do — still sewing for myself and my friends on the side. At 26, I decided to go back to school for fashion design. During this time, my husband had a screen printing & embroidery business and had just started making western hats. I was running the embroidery machine and had a side business making embroidered bags, patches, and jackets.
I started consistently making clothes, better than I had ever made before. I practiced every single day, and entered and won multiple design competitions. I eventually joined my husband, Ben in what is now Kennimer Trading.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Ha! Are you crazy?! There are constant struggles. Constructing a garment is a difficult task. There’s a lot of work, time, and math to be done before you can even sit down at a machine. And speaking of machines, those sometimes breakdown in the middle of a job and you still have to meet deadlines.
There’s also a lot of starting over in my work. I’ll have this idea or concept that is so perfect in my head, but it doesn’t always work after I’ve started working with the fabric. There’s a lot of second-guessing that comes with it too. Most of my pieces take a while to make, and after you’ve been looking at the same garment for three weeks you start to think “Is this even good?” “What am I even doing?!?” but I can usually take a break and come back to fall in love with the piece all over again.
There’s plenty of challenges but there’s a lot of great moments too. Ben and I really push each other to keep going and stay inspired. We really enjoy our work. It’s kind of crazy how it worked out. We didn’t do anything like this when we met, and now we make things that end up pairing so incredibly well together.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Kennimer Trading story. Tell us more about the business.
I make the clothes and Ben makes the hats. We specialize in western wear but can make just about anything. We focus on the quality above anything else. Everything we make is made in house, by us, one piece at a time.
That means it might take a little longer, but it’s going to be better. I make custom embroidered pearl snaps, western suits, dresses, etc. I also still offer alterations and repairs. We are always working on something new. It’s pretty fun over here.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t think luck has anything to do with it.
I think it’s all about consistent, honest work and surrounding yourself with like-minded people. That’s how I got where I am today, and it’s still a work in progress. I found something that I truly love doing and made it my job. I’m really grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Website: kennimer.co
- Email: bonniekennimer@gmail.com
- Instagram: bonniekennimer
Image Credit:
Brandon Holley
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
