Colin Kaepernick made a seed investment in skincare brand Kinlò and joins the Kinlò board, with industry veteran Mia Meachem joining as brand President and board member.
WHO: Kinlò is a functional suncare brand for all people of color that was founded by four-time Grand Slam tennis champion and activist Naomi Osaka in partnership with incubator A-Frame Brands. It is formulated for all melanated skin types and offers an assortment of everyday suncare products to help in protecting and nourishing the skin. The brand pays homage to Naomi's bicultural heritage in the meaning of the name Kinlò, with both kin and lò meaning “gold” in Japanese and Haitian Creole respectively. The brand not only offers products, but also an opportunity for education and awareness in communities of color where the narrative has often been that melanated skin does not need protection from the sun, which is simply not the case.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: "I am honored to join Naomi and her amazing Kinlò team of diverse and experienced leaders as the company works to grow a responsible business all while maintaining its commitment to the community we have set out to serve," said Kaepernick. "Not only does Kinlò produce compelling and sustainable personal care products, but it also calls attention to the ways that melanated skin-toned communities are often marginalized in research around suncare and often excluded from clinical studies on skin cancer. I believe Kinlò has the capacity to right this wrong."
"I am really excited about the new leadership we have built around Kinlò. Colin is such an important and iconic figure in our culture and also brings a smart business mind. There is no one I could think better represents the values of our brand," said Osaka. "Bringing Mia on board is another essential move. Her experience in the industry gives her a unique perspective that I hope will help take the brand to the next level. Whenever I choose people in leadership positions on my team, whether on or off the court, I always look to people who are true experts in their field. Mia is exactly that and I can't wait to get started with her."
"At A-Frame, we are dedicated to building a leadership team that reflects the community that we're building for, which is why we are honored to welcome Mia Meachem as the President of Kinlò," said A-Frame co-founder Ari Bloom. "A seasoned leader with an extensive background in beauty, marketing, and building stellar brands, her experience will help build on the momentum as we look to continue to grow the business and create a line of products that addresses a public health need in underserved communities."
"I am thrilled to join Naomi and the team at Kinlò and feel incredibly inspired by the brand's commitment of raising awareness to the importance of sun protection for melanated skin. I am particularly excited to be leading a mission-driven brand that creates products that are accessible and specifically formulated for people of color. Being a part of this journey is personally meaningful and I look forward to driving Kinlò’s continued growth and success," said Meachem.
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