Meet Cassidy Caulk | Founder of Kindred Label

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassidy Caulk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassidy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in my family. From a young age, my father always encouraged us to find solutions to problems and when necessary, create solutions ourselves. The idea behind Kindred Label started during my college years when I often needed a convenient, foldable sandal to switch out of my heels on the go. Noticing the absence of stylish yet functional options in the market, I saw an opportunity to create my own solution.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart is my dedication to truly understanding the art I want to create. At 24, I became a self-taught cobbler, a journey that challenged my creativity and deepened my understanding of shoemaking and accessory craftsmanship. As I continue to grow and evolve, I eagerly anticipate expanding Kindred Label’s product line.

While the path from concept to final product for our foldable sandal was certainly not without its challenges, it was a journey fueled by unwavering vision. I started with a pair of sandals, a bread knife, and metal rods from Michael’s craft store, to create a prototype that, while imperfect, held the seeds of potential. Securing a factory to bring this vision to fruition proved to be a complicated task, compounded by the difficulty in conveying the concept to potential partners. Through this process, I learned firsthand the critical importance of refining prototypes before production. It was through perseverance and collaboration that Kindred Label connected with an engineering firm, which dedicated eight months to refining our technology.

This entire journey taught me the importance of patience while navigating innovative concepts that may not yet be widely understood. At Kindred Label, we are problem solvers at heart, steadfast in our commitment to creating stylish and practical solutions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Eat:

Breakfast/Brunch:
The Daily
Babas on Cannon
Daps Breakfast & Imbibe
Halls
Mercantile and Mash

Lunch:
Little Jacks (best burger!)
Leon’s
Basic Kitchen
Xiao Bao Biscuit
Queen Street Grocery (love their Tenacious Turkey sandwich)
Hometeam
Taco Boy

Dinner:
Halls (best dirty martini)
Melfies (favorite Italian)
167 Raw (a must!)
Felix
Malagon
Southbound
Costa

Things to Do:
Beach Day: Spend the day at Sullivan’s Island or go there for sunset (one of my favorite things to do).
Comedy Show: Enjoy a comedy show at Theater 99.
Walk: Stroll around The Battery and South of Broad.
Art Walk: Participate in an Art Walk if it coincides with your visit.
Farmers Market: Visit a local farmers market.
Night Out on King Street: Have a fun night out at spots like Cocktail Club, Last Saint, Vintage, Ritual, Frontier Lounge, Bangkok Lounge, or Burns Alley for karaoke.
Boat Day: A boat day is a must.
Trivia Night: Attend trivia night at the breweries – love any excuse for a game night.
Daytime Fun: Hang out at Hometeam during the day or explore local breweries.
Family Time: Spend time with friends and make a trip to my parents’ house to hang by the pool.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a huge shoutout to my parents, who have been my business partners, event planners, and supporters. My father has been amazing at switching from ‘dad mode’ to ‘business mode,’ having those tough conversations that have been crucial to our success. My mother has always been my biggest cheerleader stepping in whenever there’s a need, so it’s only fitting our recent style “The Catherine” is named after her.

Website: https://kindredlabel.com/

Instagram: @kindredlabel

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassidy-caulk/

Image Credits
Headshot Credit: Preston Cook
4 Images Credit: Kirk Robert Chambers