“If anything, cutesy isn't my problem; too hard is. Living in BedStuy takes the cutesy right out of you.”

~ Khalym Schell

By Catzie Vilayphonh  |  Send to Friend

Ever since I laid eyes on a toddler sized t-shirt that had Jordan cement-printed block letters designed like NIKE but spelled "TIKE" instead, I've been vicariously eyeing things from the Sir Hayes line for everyone else's kid. It was refreshing to see something playful yet not played out by the cartoon characters of kids marketing, and with little nuances that grown-ups could appreciate too. I mean who wants to just shop at Baby Gap the first couple years of their child's lives? I chatted with the beautiful and charming Brooklyn designer Khalym Schell about her dreams for Sir Hayes, as well as the kids in her life, and the things people expect from you when you're running a kids' line.

Catz: First off, tell me what inspired you to make a kids clothing line?

Khalym: Well, I was working in Men's and Womenswear and it was boring me. A good friend of mine had a baby boy and I couldn't find anything for the baby shower. I was shopping for months, in Europe, on-line and finally I decided that this was a clothing category no one was focused on, so I started Sir Hayes.

C: What was the company you were working for before?
K: In a former life I was a Trend Researcher, a "Cool Hunter." I worked for various companies -- DKNY, Luck Jeans, Juicy, Kenneth Cole, Enyce. My job was to shop and find interesting product. So I was surprised when I couldn't find any cool baby stuff. I have to say that all of the biting and trend chasing that happens with companies like that turned me off. I feel like the kids market is still fresh, I'm able to be creative.

C: So did you end up making something for your friend? Was that the first piece?

K: Ha, its funny! I didn't make her a tee, it just inspired the line. I did make her something though: a crochet blanket and crochet bunny and mouse booties and gave her a 6-month diaper service.

C: Where does the name Sir Hayes come from?

K: I thought about the name for a while. I wanted a name that conjured up baby kings or you know, young knights. So then I thought "Sir" would be cool and added my friend's son's name. So Sir Hayes was born. I love the name because it's both regal and classic hip-hop.

C: Who draws those grafitti knights?

K: MACACO! He's an Italian illustrator who designed my Sir Hayes character for me. His name is also Pier! So Zuek shot my Fall 07 collection at Frank's Chop Shop and he shared his photo on some photog blog and Pier sent him an illustration of one of his images. Sick! So when it was time for me to get a mascot, I reached out to Pier. By the way I've never met him and there's a language barrier so it's amazing that we could even communicate, [but] Pier got all of the nuances.

One more thing. There was a moment that I didn't want anyone to know what I looked like. The reason I design behind my character, Sir Hayes, [was] because every time someone found out, they got a weird look on their face like "I thought you were a guy." It's like I'm [ruining] some fantasy they had, but since I'm gonna be more out there in '08 you can have my picture.

C: Wow, Khalym. Thanks. What I love about Sir Hayes is that there are these funny little double meanings that kids can get and adults too, like the "Purple Stuff" shirt. It's a little more refined than little kids wearing those "Stop Snitching" and "Snowman" shirts without realizing its true meaning.

K: Right! It's funny because I don't have kids. That's the first thing that people ask me. It's hard for them to get the connection or the drive to create my line but if you know me you get it. Sir Hayes is such an extension of my personality: my tomboy nature, my sense of humor and wit. I live in the hood, but I'm still kind of stuck up. It's hysterical. You can see all of that in my line. I can chit chat about Nicholas Ghesquiere pattern-making and Jay Z, or my day on the A train and my trip to the Bodega.

C: I mean having the smaller size version of your favorite company shirts, that's cool too. But it's nice to have something specifically for the kids. And cartoon shirts? I think there's enough Disney and Warner Brothers.

K: I agree. I love little people. The way they absorb things, it's amazing. Humans are at their most intelligent at that age. You're learning at such a rapid rate; you're more intuitive than you will ever be. I feel like they deserve better clothes than a row of leap frogs, you feel me?

C: Your designs have a great balance, when you're designing graphics how do you decide if it's "too cutesy"?

K: Hmmm. If anything, cutesy isn't my problem; too hard is. Living in BedStuy takes the cutesy right out of you.

C: So wait is that really Kingston (Gwen Stefani's son) in your pictures modeling your clothes?

K: NO. It's soo funny. He is B-Girl Mega's son, Kingston, or "Kinx." Gwen's son wears my stuff [too]. He made my "KRUSH TEE" famous and it was in "People Magazine" so I always refer to it as his shirt, but on my site is another Kingston. He's my model.

C: Will there be any girl's stuff any time soon? Even in kids "streetwear," the boys get all the good stuff.

K: Maybe. There's so much sweet girly stuff out there for the girls. If anything, it would be more tomboy, something that I would wear. For Spring 08, I designed some tees and sets in lavender and salmon. They were designed for boys, but girls could rock them. Everyone always asks me that so the lavender and salmon was my answer.

C: What else is in the works for Sir Hayes?

K: The line is expanding and I'll be more in touch with my customers this year. I launched ART RATZ, a monthly art class for kids. Working with kids is what moves me. I don't like to dumb down or water down anything with kids, so the classes are going to be pretty serious. It's a chance to have some out-of-the-box art classes with my artist friends.

C: They're painting Munny dolls right?

K: Right! Grown folks want to paint Munnys, too. My friends are trying to sign up without any kids.

C: I'm sure everyone asks you this: Do you think you'll have a baby, sooner or later?

K: Oh my God, girl, I just had this conversation last night. I don't know, when it happens it will happen. I have to be in a place to meet the right partner. It's all nature, when it's right I'll have those maternal hankerings. But I have to say everyone thinks I would be a good mom which blows my mind. For now, I'll have to get my kid fix designing onesies and finger painting with the wee ones.

Thanks Khalym. To check out what's royal with Sir Hayes go to sirhayes.com.