Designer Spotlight: The Kinship Cap Co.

Up in our Designer Spotlight column this week is mumpreneur, Monique Ritter, who has created a unique range of stylish 5-panel caps for fashionista babies and toddlers alike. Based in San Francisco, the designer was disheartened by only being able to find hats for her newborn son that were heavily branded, gendered or emblazoned with corporate logos, so Monique started hand-sketching her own designs, then just like that, the Kinship Cap Co. was born.

The Kinship Cap is available in four different colours, each style has been created to effectively shade children from the sun and each one sits comfortably on their heads, made from the softest, most durable fabric that children won’t mind wearing. Since the colours are versatile, each hat suits practically any outfit. The capsule collection consists of a blue bird motif, grey wool, faded denim and a colour block piece. Monique saw the lack of choice available to buy what she wanted on the high street, and turned it into a stylish business opportunity, understanding that many mums like her, prefer to dress their children in a more relaxed, modern style.

Inspired by the urban, minimalist aesthetic which is so synonymous with San Francisco, the Kinship Cap is the first of its kind for young children. The adorable lookbook features her young son, sporting the caps in each shot. Monique told us; “the Kinship Cap is the same, chic 5-panel cap design that is already readily available in adult sizes, just for little heads.” Using her own son’s preferences as her inspiration, Monique took her experiences as a mother to ensure the Kinship Cap was both wearable and stylish. The four designs from the collection is inspired by fabrics and patterns she has sourced around San Francisco, and then produced internationally by an equitable manufacturer. This aspect of the process was particularly important to Monique. From the idea’s conception, the Kinship Cap’s creator was adamant that the cap is to be made ethically, mainly as child labor is often associated with the manufacturing of children’s fashion in the US – a concern that herself and many of her friends had always had when dressing their children.

Gracie Finch

The Kinship Cap is now available in baby sizes from 5 to 18 months from the online store. Toddler sizes will be available from September. Click here to view the full collection. Find this brand on Instagram and Pinterest.