KAAN Designs is a family lifestyle brand founded by Ashley and Kenny Green from Fort Wayne, Indiana. What began as a side hustle in 2014 has grown into a thriving business that celebrates family, representation, and memorable moments.
Ashley Green, a former high school English teacher, started the business while seeking a way to spend more time with her young children. Noticing a lack of representation in existing merchandise shops, she set out to create clothing that reflected her family’s unique identity.
The brand’s name combines the first letters of the family members: Kenny, Ashley, Aiden, and Noah. Initially, Ashley designed a T-shirt for her then four-year-old son Aiden with the playful text “Short, dark, and handsome,” capturing his personality and setting the tone for the brand’s approach.
KAAN Designs offers a range of clothing and accessories for families, including:
- Matching family shirt sets
- T-shirts with clever slogans
- Sweatshirts
- Hats
- Pajamas
- Onesies
- Tote bags
- Coffee mugs
Their signature product line includes themed shirt sets:
- The Original (for parents)
- The Remix (for the oldest child)
- The Encore (for younger siblings)
- The Mic Drop (for the baby)
The brand is driven by a deeply personal mission. Ashley was motivated by the loss of her mother at a young age and the lack of photos they had together. The brand’s tagline, “Get in the Picture,” encourages families to document their moments and create lasting memories.
Similarly, Kenny was inspired by losing all of his childhood photos in a house fire, which fueled his passion for capturing family moments.
The business experienced significant growth, particularly after a viral post featuring a father and daughter with cerebral palsy wearing their shirts. In May 2019, Ashley left teaching to focus on the business full-time. They expanded from a home office to a 1,000-square-foot warehouse in their garage.
A major breakthrough came in 2020 when Oprah Winfrey selected their family pajama sets for her Favorite Things List in O, The Oprah Magazine.
KAAN Designs prioritizes showcasing diverse families. Ashley specifically wanted to create products that represented families of color and celebrated different family structures. The brand emphasizes that “everyone has a seat at this table.”
The entire Green family participates in the business. Their children – Aiden (13), Noah (11), and Kensley (5) – contribute to creative design and serve as models. The parents are careful to maintain boundaries, ensuring the children never feel like “pawns” in the business.
Today, KAAN Designs ships worldwide and has partnered with Amazon through their Business Accelerated Program. The brand continues to grow while staying true to its core mission of celebrating family and capturing meaningful moments.
