We recently connected with Kenny Jones and have shared our conversation below.
Kenny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?
I personally feel that if you friends & family truly love you they should WANT to support your business. This is due to not all support comes in the form of money. This can be as simple as re-sharing your content on social media or spreading the word about your business. There is no greater way to show your support than these ways. I try to do all of these things for each & everyone one of my friends who own businesses. Yes buying a product may cost money but there are many ways to support without having to use money.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Here’s a polished version for your magazine interview:
Kenny “KenJo” Jones: Coast Guardsman and Founder of KINDM
“My name is Kenny Jones, though most know me as KenJo. Alongside my role in the U.S. Coast Guard, I run my own clothing and sneaker brand, KINDM. My journey into fashion began back in 2011 when I launched my first clothing line right out of high school. Though I stepped away from it for a time, my passion for design never left.
In 2021, I entered and won a nationwide sneaker design contest hosted by @nikesbornothing, where I created a colorway for the iconic Nike SB Dunk, inspired by my hometown. As a lifelong sneakerhead, I had dreamt of a moment like this for years, so when I saw the contest—despite being a day late—I rushed my design and posted it with no expectations. To my surprise, it went viral in Virginia, and within hours, my design had tens of thousands of likes, comments, and shares across Instagram and Twitter. My follower count jumped from 900 to 10k, and my design ultimately won the contest. This experience reignited my drive to create, leading me to start KINDM and focus on designing full-time.
With the power of social media, especially post-2020, I realized it was possible to bring my dream of owning a clothing brand to life. KINDM represents more than just luxury-quality streetwear and sneakers—it’s about community. The name is a play on ‘Kingdom,’ but with ‘Kin’ instead of ‘King,’ symbolizing my desire to build a brand that fosters family and unity. My goal is to eventually transition out of the Coast Guard and make KINDM my full-time career, continuing to create high-end streetwear that resonates with those who, like me, appreciate the art and culture of sneakers.”
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I’d say the biggest thing I’ve had to unlearn isn’t a lesson but just self-doubt. Not letting anxiety holding you back from doing something you want or know you need to do. Especially in the clothing industry it can be hard not to doubt seeing as clothing design like art is subjective. So worrying if someone will like your designs or if you will sell out of product is something a lot of clothing brand owners stress about. I had to learn to have the utmost confidence in myself & do everything I NEED to do no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
I had to find my own manufacturers. I’ve tried manufacturing clothes in both Pakistan & China so far. I feel the main way to find a good one is through Alibaba. That way you can see reviews, past testimonials, & have your money protected. The only way to find a good manufacturer without one being given to you is to check those reviews, look at the manufacturer’s past products, and to sample your designs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kindm.us
- Instagram: @kenjo757 @kindm.ig
Image Credits
N/A