UNIFORM | Kain Label

This morning I headed downtown to meet with The Kain sisters of Kain Label. Their studio happens to be conveniently located right next door to the award-winning Handsome Coffee Roasters in downtown Los Angeles, so our first order of business was a no-brainer. Amanda and Melanie Kain started the company in 2008, with Amanda taking the reins as the designer (after graduating from FIDM and working for a few other brands) and Melanie becoming "the muscle" behind the brand, handling the day-to-day business elements after a stint in the film business. Kain Label is truly a family business, its initial inspiration started with an vintage t-shirt discovered in the sisters' step mom's closet—a black 1980s-era tee from Limelight Discotheque in Atlanta (if the tee is half as good as that video, I totally get it). This particular shirt was constantly stolen within the family, ultimately ending up with Amanda who couldn't get enough of its soft buttery feel and perfect silhouette. She embarked on creating t-shirts as soft and treasured as the Limelight tee. From there the label grew into full lines, as you can see from the below 2013 Summer collection photos. Their simple t-shirts, I can assure you, are still around and are indeed as buttery and as perfect as they say. I love how Kain walks a coveted fine line of feeling like an insider secret while still holding its own on big retail sites like Net-A-Porter and in department stores like Bloomingdale's as well as small boutiques around the country—to say nothing of being favorite tees of Gweneth Paltrow and Sienna Miller. The Kain mascot, a Goldendoodle named Theo, will also literally open the door for you as you leave. He's proper gentleman.

P.S. The sisters told me their picks from the label, Melanie's being the forever stylish Modal silk blend T-shirt ($90) and Amanda's is an updated twist on the little black dress, the Stina paneled ribbed-knit dress ($155). All Kain items are made in the U.S.A.