Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Dorris.
Hi Kimberly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started kd weave officially in 2017, but really feel like it is something I have been doing all of my life. I have always loved to create, curate, & collect. After college, I felt trapped in my post-grad job & felt the need for a creative outlet to bring some joy into my life. My Husband bought me a lap loom, & I started weaving. My Grandmother had owned a knit shop and I had learned how to knit at a young age, so weaving came pretty naturally to me and I was quickly obsessed! I started giving away my creations to friends as gifts. During Hurricane Harvey, stuck inside, I made my first-hand towel and the idea for kd weave was born. I made an Etsy shop later that year, & to my surprise, began to get orders. As the business grew, I realized that I could not weave everything on my own, & I would need help to produce.
Through volunteering, I learned there was a group of weavers in Houston who were Refugees from The Karenni State. I set up a meeting, bought them looms, & they became my first employees. I continued this while my husband David was in law school & I was working full time as a store manager. I would squeeze in pop-ups, add wholesale accounts where I could, & launched our website. We also love to travel, and on a trip to Mexico, discovered many beautiful handmade goods that paired well with ours. We began to buy and expand in new categories with this in mind. In 2020, we had our son Smith, & I decided it was the right time to take kd weave full time. Since I have been able to grow the business to now include two large shows at Round Top each year, many more accounts, & new products. After a successful Round Top show, we were in need of more help with weaving, & help came in the best way. I was able to connect with Houston-based Aspire Accessories who employ adults with Autism to make artisan-made goods. They now help weave for kd weave & are also our studio partners. Through it all, I see a common theme in my life’s work to bring good goods to the US market. I am excited to see how it all continues to expand as kd weave continues to grow.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been a rollercoaster! I have learned & am still learning to savor the successes and to hold on to them when times are tough. Running a small business can be challenging in many ways because it all comes back to you. You are creating something new, & often there is no roadmap. It can be overwhelming. For me, a current struggle is expanding our reach in this very dynamic and ever-changing world. Figuring out Instagram, accounting, marketing, budgeting, what’s worth spending money on & what’s not. It’s all up to me to decide, & sometimes that is daunting. It is hard to feel so passionate about our products but not sure how to get it in the hands of the right people. That is the challenge of small business, but also can be so rewarding when you figure out a piece of the puzzle and get it right. It is all a journey!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Kd weave began by making hand-woven goods. Our first product was a hand towel, & is our most popular product. We have since really expanded, first in our woven products that now include: tabletop textiles, pot holders, & even a top that we call a halftan (half of a caftan). We also source all over the world for goods that pair well with ours. We have goods from Mexico, Africa, and Japan & are looking to expand to Haiti and India. There is beauty to be found everywhere, & we are always on the hunt!
Any big plans?
I am looking forward to the day we can hire more employees for kd weave! I would love to have someone to bounce ideas off of & help take on some responsibilities! Also, I am planning for more ways to be able to connect people with our products in real life. I think so much has changed since Covid that we do not fully understand, & I would like for our goods to be a means that helps build community and connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kdweave.com
- Instagram: kd_weave
Image Credits
Elizabeth Denny Photography
