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Five Questions For Kordal Knitwear

Cassie Marketos · · 4 comments

  1. Kordal is a contemporary knitwear brand founded by Mandy Kordal in 2011. Since then, she's handmade all kinds of beautiful pieces, from comfy, warm caps to elaborate, lace back cardigans — and gained herself a slew of loyal, eager fans. Next season will find her partnering with local knitwear technicians to meet the demand, but the super busy schedule didn't keep her from sitting down for a brief Q&A with us. Read on!

    1. Was making your project video:

    A. INTIMIDATING 
    B. EXHILARATING 
    C. OVERWHELMING 
    D. HILARIOUS 
    E. OH GOD. I CAN'T WATCH IT. I JUST. NO. 
    F. ALL OF THE ABOVE

    I would have to say F. All of the above! I am really lucky to have such talented group of friends to help me put this project together. Knowing a photographer, film editors, musicians, and some amazing illustrators really helped make this video and project more dynamic. It is a little strange to listen to myself describe what I do everyday, but it was so fun to film with everybody! Throughout the process of starting this business and creating this video there has been so much collaboration. I love knowing that someone is wearing my clothing in exchange for photographing my work. It's such a positive way to interact with others and regardless of how the project turns out I am just really grateful to have had that experience! 

    Team Kordal celebrating the completion of their Kickstarter video.
    Team Kordal celebrating the completion of their Kickstarter video.

    Care to give a little pep talk for people currently procrastinating making their project videos?

    I would say just bite the bullet and get started, and play to your strengths! For example I know that I get nervous in front of the camera so I decided to record audio separately from filming so I was more collected and thoughtful with my project description. And ask for help! It's hard to put a video together by yourself, especially if you are trying to start a business, launch a product, record an album, etc. Your video is the first thing people are going to look at when they see your project, and it makes such a difference when a project has clear images and a good video. Take your time and make sure you are happy with what you have created.

    2. What do you know now that you wish you knew then? (about running a Kickstarter project, or life in general!)

    Haha, well since I launched this yesterday I don't think I have much to contribute for this question. Let's see, I would say make sure to copy paste your images correctly into the summary page, and double check you can view them on both a Mac and PC! And make sure to spread the word to others as much as possible. Social media is such a useful tool for a project like this, so use it to your advantage! 

    3. What can your fans expect come spring? What in particular is inspiring you and what are some pieces we can look forward to?

    This spring is going to be a really exciting time for Kordal. We are in the process of designing and sampling our Spring '13 collection, which will hopefully be shown at Capsule this Fall. We have been really inspired by images of shadows for this first season. I have been spending my off days walking around Brooklyn photographing shadows that form interesting patterns and shapes which we are going to translate into the knit garments through intarsia, lace work, color blocking, or striping. We are going to be posting our photos, images of the design process, and swatches so that everyone can be a part of this first collection. 

    Kordal knitwear (and rewards!) in action.
    Kordal knitwear (and rewards!) in action.
    Shots from project video preparation.
    Shots from project video preparation.

    4. What are three things that particularly inspire you while you design?

    I am typically inspired by a specific concept, and I will collect imagery around this idea.  But I am also really inspired by the materials I select, that's when it really starts to come alive for me. Sometimes just seeing  a sketch on a page it's hard to visualize the final product, but once I have my color palette and yarn qualities selected the idea becomes much more clear. I will also take some time to drape on the dress form, this process helps me to design more dynamic silhouettes. 

    5. Any words of wisdom for all the would-be project creators out there?

    Go for it, and be okay with having ups and downs! You will have days when everything feels overwhelming and stressful, but trust me it is so rewarding to see your hard work pay off! Kickstarter is such an amazing platform for you to get out there and create something positive and new. You will be amazed by how many people want to support creative people and projects. I would also suggest thinking long and hard about your incentive items. Offer something you really can follow through with, and that your project backers will be excited to own. Think of them as your first customers and you want them to be talking about you and your project even after it is funded, and it will be through their support that your project is successful! 

    Project reward: Asymmetrical silk blouse.
    Project reward: Asymmetrical silk blouse.

  2. How To Make an Awesome Video

    Meaghan O'Connell · · 32 comments

    If you’re like us, the first thing you do when visiting a project page is click play. A video is by far the best way to get a feel for the emotions, motivations, and character of a project. It’s a demonstration of effort and a good predictor of success. Projects with videos succeed at a much higher rate than those without (50% vs. 30%).

    We know that making a video can be intimidating. Not many of us like being in front of a camera. We also know that making a video is a challenge worth taking on. It says you care enough about what you’re doing to put yourself out there. It's a small risk with a big reward.

    If you have computer access and a ready supply of enthusiasm, you’ve got all you need. Some videos are big montages and others are epic long takes, but most videos are just someone telling their story straight into the camera. You can spend days shooting and editing, or you can just knock it out with a couple friends on a Saturday. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be you.

    No matter how creative or bare-bones your video, you'll want to:

    • Tell us who you are.
    • Tell us the story behind your project. Where'd you get the idea? What stage is it at now? How are you feeling about it?
    • Come out and ask for people's support, explaining why you need it and what you'll do with their money.
    • Talk about how awesome your rewards are, using any images you can.
    • Explain that if you don't reach your goal, you'll get nothing, and everyone will be sad.
    • Thank everyone!

    And don't be afraid to put your face in front of the camera and let people see who they’re giving money to. We’ve watched thousands of these things, and you’d be surprised what a difference this makes.

    Another thing to remember: don't put any copyrighted music in your video without permission! Expensive lawsuits are never fun. Here are some music resources you can use when the time comes: SoundCloud, Vimeo Music Store, Free Music Archive, and ccMixter.

    And finally a few technical specs: videos must be 250 MB or less and have a file type of MOV, MPEG, AVI, MP4, 3GP, WMV, or FLV.

    32 comments

  3. New Projects Are Headed Your Way, Post Haste!

    Cassie Marketos · · 5 comments

    Every Monday, Kickstarter staff collect a few of our favorite, recently launched projects to share with the masses (we can't help it — we get excited!). You can check out our choices this week, below, but make sure to stop by our Discover page to find even more. So many good projects, so little time!

    An example Para Clock.
    An example Para Clock.

    Para Clocks Project, by LeeLABS

    This past week I found out I have a fascination with clocks. This was kind of strange because I don't wear a watch or even have a clock in my house, yet, somehow, I've become enamored with these time telling machines. First it was the Present. Now, it's Para Clocks Design App, which allows individuals to create their own clock designs by through radial geometry. If Mrs Verkler, my High School geometry teacher, had told me this, I may have paid attention. Instead, I'm sitting here, scratching my head, wondering how I can make symmetrical, psychedelic clocks. — Mike M. 

    We Two Boys, by Meshi Chavez

    My favorite dance project videos are ones where I get to see some dancing and hear the creator talk about the work. Pretty simple recipe, but always hits it home. Here's one! Portlander Meshi Chavez speaks beautifully about his latest piece "We Two Boys," based on the Walt Whitman poem "We Two Boys Together Clinging," about the mysterious and intimate relationship between two men. His movements take inspiration from the Japanese form of dance Butoh, and it's Meshi's first opportunity to perform his work out of town, at the Wild Dancing West Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this May. — Daniella J.

    Alicia Escott's "Love Letters Sent Sometime Before the Continents Divorced" will be presented as part of the Post Haste exhibit.
    Alicia Escott's "Love Letters Sent Sometime Before the Continents Divorced" will be presented as part of the Post Haste exhibit.

    Post-Haste, by Jayna Swartzman

    Ever since I fulfilled rewards on my own Kickstarter project, I have had a soft spot (and a rage spot) for the U.S. Postal Service. I can't help but look back fondly on yes, the waiting in line, the bureaucracy, and the relative incompetence of so many postal employees, but also the magic of sending something physical and actual, to other people, through the mail. With 3700 post offices scheduled to close in the next year, the art exhibit Post Haste is set to celebrate just that: the magic, the intimacy, and the frustration of the USPS. It asks the question, "What will we lose?" and will feature everything from portraits of stamp collectors, a wunderkammer of correspondence (is any exhibit complete without awunderkammer?), and a participatory work by Calcagno Cullen, where the artist will type up letters dictated by gallery-goers and send them to random recipients around the country. — Meaghan O. 

    Hermes Spacecraft, by STAR Systems

    While it may seem that humankind is still a long ways away from hopping into personal spacecrafts and shuttling off to Mars for lunch, private rocketeers and scientists are doing their darndest to give the Richard Bransons of the world a run for their money. The Hermes Spacecraft team are developing a reusable suborbital spacecraft that can take passengers and payloads into space. They've got the prototype built, and are now looking to fund the next step: building and testing the ship's hybrid rocket propulsion system. Don't rule out lunch on Mars just yet... — Cindy A. 

    Panel illustrations from the graphic novel "Saturdays."
    Panel illustrations from the graphic novel "Saturdays."

    Saturdays: Dinosaurs, Robots, and Octopi, by Noah Kroese

    I was pretty convinced by illustrator Noah Korese from the first line of his project video, the one in which he implores that he loves to draw. I really believe him, especially after this handy visual representation of his brain. Beyond sincere enthusiasm, though, I also love what he's doing: creating a children's book/graphic novel centered around a dark, creative, and feisty protagonist named India who must persevere through the trials and tribulations of a really, really unusual week. I grew up coveting characters like Coraline and Matilda — complex, challenging, and brave little girls — because, let's face it, I totally wanted to be them. Now, it sounds like India is ready to join the ranks!  — Cassie M. 

    Bonobo Chat: An App For Talking With Apes, by Ken Schweller 

    Is there any creature lovelier than the bonobo? They are essentially gentler, hairier, and more sexually open versions of us. Which is why I support any technology that improves human-bonobo communication, so we can all tell each other exactly what we're thinking. Professor Ken Schweller, head programmer at Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, is making Bonobo Chat, which not only allows bonobos and humans to speak to each other, but also allows the apes to control their environment using simple lexigram commands. This project also involves something awesome and sort of terrifying called the RoboBonobo, and for $500, you can Skype with a bonobo named Kanzi or Panbanisha! Dream come true. — Nicole H. 

    5 comments
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