i IN DESiGN: Pams & Kin
Getting Personal with the Nail Color Queens
One of the most recent additions to Circle & Square is the pretty line of nail polish from Pams & Kin. We chatted with the two designers behind this spunky brand, Parris and Kiri, for an insider look at the founders of phancy phalanges. Join in on the fun!
First, the basics. How did you come up with the name “Pams & Kin”?
Parris: Our name actually stems from a common misreading, and thus misspelling of our real names. When we were playing soccer in college, the first roster actually had both our names as Pams and Kin. We immediately clicked and became the dynamic duo of Pams and Kin.
Kiri: We both have extremely neat and legible handwriting so having people not able to read it has been an ongoing joke since the day we met.
Tell us about where you make the polishes – we hear it’s local.
Kiri: We make it in the living room of my apartment (I started referring to it as “the lab”) in Burlingame. My boyfriend really enjoys constantly having everything (including his face) covered in random pieces of glitter. I pulled a banana out of my bag at our day job and realized it too was covered in glitter and a rhinestone. We really do have glitter in our veins… and on our clothes, friends and food.
You may have guessed that we like to break the rules and get independent. What is your favorite fashion rule to break?
Parris: I think the best rule to break is all of them. Just because something isn’t “in” doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I have always been a leopard print girl whether or not it’s in season, and this is something I intend to keep for the rest of my life.
Kiri: I’m not convinced there are no “rules” in fashion. Designers are breaking rules and making new ones every day; I can’t keep up. If I like something, I’m in love with it and I’m going to wear it no matter what.
If you did have to choose one nail color to wear for the rest of the season, which would it be and why?
Parris: This is tough, considering we both change our polishes on almost a daily basis. I would definitely pick either “Left Coast Envy” or “The Blue Roses.” They both have this amazing ability to compliment any outfit with the right amount of pop.
Kiri: ”Paper Heart” or “Dust In the Wind.” I’m big into the “mannequin hands” look that nude polish gives but I also love glitter (duh) so “Dust in the Wind” is amazing to me. “Paper Heart” is so soft and neutral. I love color but I’m definitely inclined to blend in rather than stand out.
What is currently inspiring you?
Parris: All the bright bold colors of this spring. We are definitely not afraid of color and this is a moment we’ll ride out as long as possible.
Kiri: Anything and everything. We have polish on the brian all the time so everything is an inspiration at this point.
Circle & Square is celebrating this month by “marching forward” – what is your goal to #MarchForward today?
Parris: To stop procrastinating and start on my spring cleaning! But making nail polish is way more fun.
Kiri: To minimize the amount of glitter randomly stuck to my body… and to find a hand model and stop using my boyfriend as our personal nail polish color tester.