Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Adams.
Hi Laura, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Kindly Woven was born from a desire to do things differently in an industry I love. To build textiles rooted in creativity, community, and integrity. The spark came years after witnessing the loss of textile manufacturing jobs in my own hometown, as well as in the towns where I’d lived and worked across NC, and realizing how deeply that loss still rippled through those communities nearly two decades later. It wasn’t just about mills closing; it was about families, purpose, and often identity, disappearing with them.
I want to redeem what was lost and prove that American-made textiles can still be meaningful, beautiful, and impactful. Everything we create honors the people and places that once formed the backbone of this industry and reminds us that kindness and craftsmanship still belong at the heart of how we make things.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Introducing a new model of business into an industry that has been around for hundreds of years comes with its share of challenges. In the beginning, it was hard to get manufacturing partners to take me seriously. More than one laughed in my face, and another told me the industry would never accept what I was trying to do. But I knew that resistance came from being stuck in an old way of thinking, one that, to be honest, was holding back an industry that has been struggling for a long time.
For every person who told me I couldn’t do it, others appeared who believed in the vision. They told me they had been waiting for change and were excited to see someone try. Our focus has always been to elevate the designers and artists who truly create the vision for the mills and brands they’ve worked for, but who often remain unseen. By giving them a platform and honoring their creative leadership, as well as the hands that carry out that vision, we’re helping to reshape how this industry values the people behind the work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Kindly Woven began with blankets, our first line of small-batch woven textiles made in the U.S. in collaboration with incredible artists and produced at a family-owned mill. Each piece starts with an artist’s vision and is brought to life through American weaving, combining craftsmanship, creativity, and care. As we grow, we’re expanding into pillow collections and fabric by the yard, continuing to build on that same foundation.
Through our Studio Intensive, we also teach artists and designers how to enter the interiors market. Some come to us to learn how to sell artwork for woven products, others to add textiles to their brand or create unique products that are entirely their own. Our goal is to break down the barriers that have long made this industry feel closed and tightly held. By opening doors and sharing knowledge, we’re helping to make the interiors world more vibrant, inclusive, and kind.
At heart, we are textile designers with a deep love for our craft, and an even deeper love for the people we work alongside to bring these visions to life. Whether we’re developing our own collections or helping others create theirs, everything we do begins with that shared spirit of artistry, community, and kindness.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve never really believed in luck in the traditional sense. I think what we often call luck is really a mix of hard work, timing, and trust that things will unfold the way they are meant to. There have been moments that felt like bad luck, like contracts that fell through, partners who did not honor agreements, or people I trusted who disappointed me. At the time, those things were heartbreaking. But looking back, I can see how each one redirected me toward something better and closer to my purpose.
I have also experienced what others might call good luck. People have shown up at just the right time, given me a chance, or offered encouragement when I needed it most. I have had cheerleaders who pushed me forward and honest voices that made the business stronger. If there is any luck in my story, it has been the grace of crossing paths with the right people at the right time and the lessons that turned setbacks into redirection.
Pricing:
- $148 Woven Blanket with Fringe
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kindlywoven.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindlywoven/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kindlywoven
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kindly-woven/
- Other: https://www.kindlywoven.com/shop
