Our Story

The Beginning

Creativity has a timing and life all its own, we can merely be available for when that timing is just right; KIN was born at that very intersection.  Gareth and Lisa always talked about collaborating since Lisa first encouraged and saw the birth of Rooey Knots at the Martha’s Vineyard flea markets in 2014.  Year after year the conversation circled around the openness of having it land at any given time.  They had the special opportunity to collaborate when Aubrey Marie pivoted her business, Juniper, during the pandemic to include artists like Lisa and Gareth in her shop.  At the suggestion of Aubrey, a local space became available to embark on what would become KIN. 

Between February and April of 2021, Lisa and Gareth hashed out the details including landing on the name KIN.  As individually established business owners on the island, they wanted to form a new entity and name together; as a family-owned business KIN was a natural choice. To create a more dynamic boutique gallery they called upon their well-established relationships with designers and artists they already loved and included them in KIN.  

Featured Artist Selection

Gareth and Selah of Selah Vie Jewelry were friends and peers for years at markets in New York City.  They collaborated on spaces, and photoshoots and championed each other’s work.  She was a natural selection to be the first jewelry line KIN carried. As a vineyard Artisan, Lisa’s connections with a number of local artists were deep.  One ceramicist, in particular, Frank Creney, a master potter, was an effortless selection for the feel and warmth of KIN. His work is simply a standout. Though Lisa originally collected Marston Clough’s paintings as soon as Gareth saw his work she too knew he would be a fantastic addition to our artists.  Marston’s work is not only striking but also dreamy and evocative. His breathtaking landscapes have a deeply personal palate. Gareth and Blossom became friends at the Chilmark Flea Market.  As a true lover of fabric, prints, and patterns, Gareth was enamored with Blossom’s hand-dyed botanical dresses, each with its own piece of wearable art.  Her willowy slip dresses are the perfect complement to Gareth’s more structured Rooey pieces. It was important to us in creating KIN that the items surrounding us evoked a heart connection and the people creating them felt like family; mission accomplished. 

The History

From the very start, Kin’s magic was revealing itself. Our first space found us, a little building at the corner of Dock and Kelley street.  When we knew we would have to move on from this space after less than a year, there was a sadness about the uncertainty of KIN moving forward.  Little did we know that KIN’s magic would guide us to a perfect new space that both Gareth and Lisa had in their memories. A block away from our original location, down a brick path, up a few steps in a colonial house built in 1703 KIN found a new home within the John Coffin House.  While sad to leave the sweet little spot on the corner they could not feel more blessed to have found another retail space as well as have the opportunity to have a studio and extended gallery space on the second floor.  The memories come from the 1990s when Lisa was a boutique manager in this exact location at a beloved store named Chica.  Gareth’s memories come from visiting her aunt Lisa at Chica and running around the front yard while watching the annual 4th of July parade. All of the Brown family remembers the Chica days. The continuation of memory-making through our new endeavor is truly a full-circle experience for our own Kin. 

The Evolution

KIN has continued to evolve from its inception.  The workflow is organic and changes with the needs of the seasons and clients.  On any given day you can find either Gareth or Lisa at the desk or on occasion both.  The word crossover has come around many times over as both founders of KIN have cultivated their clients through the years and found with serendipity that many of their clients do crossover. At the heart of KIN is Lisa and Gareth’s desire to create a personal island experience of beauty and creativity that will leave a lasting impression on their customers that become kin. They opened their doors on April 17th, 2021, and are still thriving!