Meet Kai Brown | Designer and Chainstitch Embroidery Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kai Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kai, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
When I learned about the environmental impact of the fashion industry on our plant I was totally shocked. I knew that with amR I wanted work on being apart of the solution. That’s why we’ve focused heavily on repairing and repurposing vintage clothing and trying to reimagine it though the artform of Chainstitch Embroidery.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been in and around art for as long as I can remember. I started to find my way with music in my early teens and formed a punk rock band in my home town just outside Sydney, Australia. That lead me on an amazing 15 year journey. I moved to the US in 2006 and recorded my first solo album as a Singer/Songwriter. I was luck enough to go on to record 3 more records and spend the next 10 years touring the US, Europe, Canada and Central and South America.

In 2016 after many years on the road I was looking for something new. I always had a passion for vintage fashion and denim and had amassed quite the collection from my years thrifting on the road.

I discovered Chainstitch Embroidery through the vintage clothing community and bought my first machine that year.
I was lucky to have a mentor up in Seattle, a guy named Earnie Allen. Earnie sold me my first machine and showed me the basics. From there I took it back to LA and started playing around. I was making stuff for friends and just trying to get my head around it. Because I’d spent so many years playing guitar the machine operation came quite easily to me. I was very clear from the beginning that I wanted to focus on vintage. I always loved vintage Levis and there jacket became my first canvas. Over the years I’ve expanded the brand into many other items and projects which has kept it interesting. Moving forward I’m hoping to grow amR as a design studio and boutique embroidery house that focus’ on working with other artists and company’s to continue to tell unique and inspiring stories.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d say a Van life road trip from Sydney to Byron Bay in Australia is one of the great adventures you could ever take. I’ve been doing this trip my whole life and have some amazing hidden surf spots and camp sites on the beach all the way up the coast.

I actually did this trip in 2019 before Covid with 4 of my best mates from LA. We took two vans and surfed, fished and camped for two weeks. It was such a memorable and inspiring trip!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been very fortunate to have some amazing people come into my life along this journey.

My family of course, my brother Rohin is an incredible musician and source of inspiration. He has a band called The Walking Who that’s releasing some incredible music.

All the brands and fellow designers I’ve had the privilege of working with.

A few standout’s include – Natas Kaupas, and Birdwell, John Moore and Outerknown, Craig Stecyk, Fred Segal, Ron Herman Japan, Art Basel, BMW Culture Group.

Website: www.weareamr.com

Instagram: @weareamr

Image Credits
@amcreative_projects @raynefitton @katbenzova_rockphoto @aggie @ashleyhart @emmettskyy @katelmartin @morganfletchall @deanbradshaw @kyla.shay