When you choose K Marina Designs, you’re not just purchasing a beautiful, timeless piece; you’re supporting artisan communities to thrive. An ethical leather goods brand that inspires elegance and beauty while giving back to local artisans & the environment. K Marina Designs is a new socially-conscious business founded and run by Kendra McLaughlin. Kendra grew up in Guatemala, and has spent a large portion of her life traveling, always coming back to where she considers home. She not only dedicates her time to K Marina but is also part owner and manager of a well-known hotel and restaurant in Antigua Guatemala, Meson Panza Verde. She is also the creator and developer for the cultural/ entrepreneur mobile app “Antigua Live”. K Marina Designs prides itself in being fair-trade, handmade, ethically sourced, using up cycled hand-woven textiles and leather. Her designs are each uniquely made with care and love, providing quality products that only get better with time. Kendra dedicates K Marina Designs to be ethical in all aspects and to help support local artisans. The business helps small scale entrepreneurs develop business tools and provides microloans which allow them to acquire equipment and capital necessary to grow their trade. Through K Marina these artisans acquire personal contacts to sell their own designs in the global market and help create value in traditional artisanal practises that are disappearing. K Marina donates 10% of all profits to children’s environmental education. Kendra studied ethnobotany in university and believes strongly in the importance of traditional ecological knowledge and of empowering underprivileged children through understanding the importance of the environment. In that spirit, K Marina donates to the local organization “Garden of Hope”, building school-gardens that give children safe green spaces; something a lot of people take for granted. These spaces are not only a viable source of income, food, and health, but a great learning tool about how to interact with the world and others.
