Exclusive: Founder and CEO of KADA Kassia Davis Was 'Determined' to Start a 'Brand of Staples That All Multi-Tasking Women Can Rely On'

Kassia Davis knows all too well there's never a "good" time to launch a company, especially during a pandemic, but that didn't stop her from doing so.

"I had so many visions for my brand — I wanted to share my passions with the world, create workplaces that empower women and create something positive during such a dark time. When launching KADA, because of supply chain and wholesale partnership challenges, the pandemic forced me to think more about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the business; like what I envisioned as the brand identity, the core values and everything that really encompassed how the brand would be perceived during such a challenging period of history," Davis exclusively tells Morning Honey about starting sustainable ready-to-wear collection KADA, which acquired P.F. Flyers from the New Balance umbrella.

One of the reasons Davis — whose father purchased New Balance in 1972 and continues to run it alongside her brother — wanted to start her venture was because she felt "a void" in her own closet.

"Before KADA, I had yet to discover a brand that could offer staple items across all silhouettes — sure, some brands have 'the perfect tee' that you want to throw on every morning and some have 'the little black dress' that’s perfect for every occasion — but what brand has it all? I was determined to create a brand of staples that all multi-tasking women can rely on every morning no matter where the day ahead will take them, giving them one less thing to worry about," the mom-of-one, who launched KADA in April 2021, three months before acquiring PF Flyers, explains. "Our entire product process is sustainable from sourcing out fabrics, to means of production, to packaging. It’s a very time-consuming and expensive process, but it’s at the core of our strategy and we’re 100 percent committed to maintaining that."

Prior to starting KADA, Davis didn't know she wanted to be an entrepreneur until she was about 30 years old.

"While at New Balance, I became passionate about continuing my career in the apparel space, and ultimately made the decision to leave the family business and start my own brand where I would have the opportunity to evolve in a different way. I wanted to understand firsthand the blood, sweat and tears required to build a brand from ground up, learn from and work through my own mistakes without the support or resources of a large corporation, and feel the challenges and defy the odds of being a female entrepreneur — all experiences that wouldn’t be possible for me at a billion-dollar global brand," she shares.

Now, Davis is happy for the opportunity, as she has the freedom to "push the boundaries creatively" but also is still finding the balance of managing people while making everyone on the team happy.

"I learn something new every single day, but the most important skill I’ve learned is to have patience. My toxic trait is restlessness and I always operate with a sense of urgency — this has served me well as an entrepreneur, but I’ve learned that having patience when appropriate is just as important," she notes.

"By making versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down, swing edgy or feminine, and withstand the test of time so they’re always ready to wear, KADA empowers women to express themselves and never stop evolving. Along the way, we’re evolving how fashion gets made, setting a new standard for sustainable production and a cleaner, safer world," she adds of making an impact in the fashion world. "When consumers see and feel our product in person, they fall in love. We worked so hard to find the right fabrics for our collection, and I have to say the team nailed it. Our fabrics are delicate yet durable and the handfeel is so soft you feel like you’re wearing loungewear but you also look put together."

Not only is Davis booked and busy at work, but she's also a mother to her son, Willie. "I’m very fortunate to have help at home, and I prioritize having breakfast with Willie and being home for dinner and bedtime. If my work isn’t done, I finish after he goes to bed. When I’m home and he’s awake, it’s all about being completely present with him," she says.

However, Davis advises other to "find time in your day" to be productive.

"Whether it’s an hour in the morning to have coffee and read, schedule a therapy session, or get a workout in. Making sure I have me-time and I don’t completely lose myself in motherhood has made a huge impact on my ability to be a good mom and a successful businesswoman," she says. "I have to make sure I schedule me-time, whether that’s simply blocking time off on my calendar, scheduling a therapy session or a personal training session. I find that if it’s not scheduled and I’m not held accountable, I rarely do it because motherhood or work take priority."

"The mom guilt is real, but I do think it’s important that my kids see me follow my passion, work hard and stay true to the identity I had pre-kids. There aren’t many women in positions of leadership in the sneaker industry, and I’m excited at the thought of my kids growing up watching me work hard to be one of those women," she adds.

Through the trials and tribulations, Davis is thrilled to make a product she believes in.

"I hope to be influential and empower other women to find the strength to define their own success," she declares. "I want KADA to be a one stop shop/go-to brand for the modern multitasking woman. We’re making great progress with smaller boutiques nationwide, but my hope over the next few years is to establish partnerships with bigger retailers like Revolve, Shopbop, Nordstrom and Net-a-Porter. For now I’m focused on clothing and shoes, but sky’s the limit — so look out for new launches from me over the next few years."