"Make satin-lined hoodies" When KIN Apparel founder secured a deal with Shark Tank's Emma Grede

Hair care YouTuber, Philomina Kane, stepped into ABC's hit show, Shark Tank, with a simple yet brilliant idea. She explained to ABC 7 in 2021:

"Traditional hoodies are made with cotton and cotton absorbs the moisture in your hair, leaving it dry, frizzy. So, what we do is we line the hoods with satin. That does not strip your hair of moisture."

She explained further on Shark Tank:

"I found myself always putting a scarf on before putting a hoodie on.” She continued, "One day I was like, you know what, I'm going to make satin-lined hoodies."

Her company, KIN Apparel (Keeping it Naturally), addresses a long-overlooked need in the market: protective clothing for natural hair. Drawing inspiration from her Ghanaian roots, Kane transformed a pandemic passion project into a thriving business. The premise was straightforward—take everyday hoodies and line them with silk to protect natural hair from damage.

On Shark Tank, entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful investors (the Sharks) in hopes of securing funding and mentorship. Kane's pitch would prove to be one of the show's most memorable success stories.

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How did Kane’s pitch on Shark Tank go?

Kane's pitch struck an emotional chord in the Tank. She asked for $200,000 for 10% of KIN Apparel, sharing her journey of choosing entrepreneurship over Princeton University. The numbers spoke volumes—$246,000 in first-year sales, followed by $355,000 in just six months of 2021. Her main hurdle? Inventory management and reducing pre-orders.

Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Kevin O'Leary passed on the opportunity. O'Leary cited past failures with hair care products, while Corcoran praised Kane's creativity but felt the partnership wouldn't be the right fit.

Enter Emma Grede and Lori Greiner. The duo offered $300,000 for 30% equity. After some negotiation, Kane accepted. But the TV deal wasn't the final chapter.

In July 2023, Kane revealed to CNBC:

"After due diligence [and] so much time had passed, literally nine months, I decided to only go with Emma."

"Emma Grede is currently my investor for half the price [and] half the percentage. It was a decision I made just thinking about where I want to see my company and what makes sense."

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What happened to KIN apparel after its Shark Tank episode?

The "Shark Tank effect" hit KIN Apparel hard. Within months of airing, orders flooded in. Kane told the Philadelphia Business Journal that over 1,000 orders arrived after her segment aired. Revenue doubled to $700,000 in mere months, reaching $1.3 million by the end of 2021.

Two years after the episode, Kane celebrated on Instagram:

"The show propelled our growth, helped us invest in team members, and increased our capacity to develop innovative products! Above all, it exposed us to so many people, which grew the KINfolk!"

Kane's ambitions keep growing. By 2023, KIN Apparel was projected to hit $3 million in revenue, earning her a spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. The company expanded beyond hoodies to satin-lined hats and dresses.

Her latest venture? Securing more funding. In late 2023, Kane won $75,000 through Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition Prize. She's now seeking an additional $2 million investment to fuel further expansion.

Between running a successful business and giving back through initiatives like donating hoodies to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Kane remains grounded. As she put it on Instagram:

"Although some months were difficult, one thing I'm good at is persistence."

For Kane, Shark Tank was just the beginning:

"It's like a dream come true. So, I want people to hear my story and embrace their natural hair," she told ABC 7.

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Since its Shark Tank debut, the company has expanded its lineup to include hoodies, satin-lined hats, and dresses on its website.