H
andbag and accessory designer Kendall Conrad
has established a business on family admiration and
finesse. Born in San Francisco, her family migrated
to Rincon Point when she was eight years old, thus beginning
her footprint on the Central Coast. To speak of Kendall and not
mention accolades of her father would be to not truly know the
woman behind the namesake brand. Kendall began our interview
with endearing praise of her dad: “He’s an influence on my
aesthetic, always.”
Her father, the late Barnaby Conrad, was a respected artist,
author, and bullfighter; his art hangs in the National Portrait
Gallery in Washington, D.C., and John Steinbeck declared
Conrad’s novel
Matador
a favorite upon release. (The book has
been translated into 28 languages.) He also founded the Santa
Barbara Writers Conference in 1978, but it was his bullfighting
career that sparked the greatest impact for his daughter.
Kendall began a career in fashion as a model. Working in Paris,
London, and New York brought the young Californian a view
into the industry which would later allow her creative genes to
flourish. She explains the transition from modeling to designing
“was very natural. Modeling taught me so much about fashion
and style that by the time I got around to designing, it was
sort of built into me.” Traveling the world and ultimately being
inspired by her father, the classic silhouettes in bags, shoes, men’s
collection, and growing accessories line celebrate a Spanish
aesthetic with a West Coast spin.
She allows the pieces to speak for themselves. “I don’t like to
‘torture’ my bags by putting a lot of bells and whistles. It’s simple
and luxe and [has] great functionality,” she describes. “The
jewelry is pretty architectural and nature-based. With shoes,
comfort is really important.” From London to New York to Santa
Barbara, her customers are “women who know what they want
and know they do not need a ‘status bag’ to prove who they are.”
With Conrad’s three stores in Montecito, Venice, and Brentwood
(and wholesale accounts around the globe), the color palettes,
level of luxury, and high-quality materials strengthen her timeless
style and create universal appeal.
For the animal lover and advocate, the use of sustainable leather
is a critical element to her business. The skins (such as American
alligator and snakeskin) are by-products of the food industry,
resourcing a material that would have otherwise gone to waste.
With new designs constantly rolling in, the back-end of the
business remains loyal to her start: family. Her husband, David
Cameron, acclaimed fashion photographer and award-winning
designer in his own right, handles the business side, allowing
Kendall to focus on design. Her eldest daughter has made an
appearance as a model for the company, “when we can persuade
her to do so.” The talent shines through to her youngest
daughter as well. At one time, the sisters launched an online
lifestyle magazine (
SiSMagazine
) at the tender ages of 10 and 12.
As seasons pass, the artistry gene proves strong. The Conrad
footprint is firmly planted in Montecito with a family legacy to be
proud of.
Kendall Conrad
1024 Coast Village Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
(805) 886-8344
|
Instagram:
@kendallconraddesign
KENDALL CONRAD
BY
MEGAN
WALDREP
summer
|
fall
63
