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Krop Jeans
Markets that Come Full Circle: Revisiting Krop Jeans and a Story That Inspires Me to Keep Going
There are some moments in your creative journey that stay with you — not because they’re loud, but because they feel true. That’s exactly how I’d describe meeting KC, the founder of Krop Jeans, at a market somewhere between Hudson, NY and Pound Ridge back in 2023. It was one of those early autumn afternoons where the energy is crisp, the denim is stiff (in all the right ways), and you just know you’ve stumbled across something real.
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KC and I connected back when I was living “upstate” — which, for those not from around here, is a somewhat fancy way of saying Westchester, New York. That’s where I was born and raised, though many out-of-towners label it “upstate” because it’s north of Long Island and New York City, even though it’s still very much part of the Tri-State area. It was during that time I was conducting market research for my Master’s program at Savannah College of Arts and Design. My focus? Exploring the evolving relationship between designers, consumers, and artisans — and how market culture serves as a vital bridge between them. Honestly, I never expected that a casual interview with a local jeans designer would become one of the most grounding and inspiring conversations in my thesis.
Read our interview in: 🌀 Locals World Digital Magazine – Vol. 01
And oh, did I mention KC’s work has even been spotted on none other than Natasha Bedingfield — yes, that “Unwritten” singer who basically wrote the anthem for going your own way (denim-clad, no doubt).
But that’s the thing about KC: she isn’t just making jeans — she’s reimagining what denim can mean. Her process is as intentional as it is artistic: collecting vintage women and men’s Levi’s from thrift shops, dying them by hand in upstate New York, and reviving them into one-of-a-kind overalls, jackets, and wide-leg pants that tell new stories while honoring the old ones.
“I’m here to give new life to old denim,” KC shared with me back then. “Vintage denim carries stories. There’s sentiment in the wear. The softness. The fact that someone loved this piece enough to keep it for years. I just help it live on — with a little more attitude.”
When she said that, something clicked. KC isn’t just a designer. She’s a preservationist with style.
Markets as My Medium
According to my Human Design chart, I thrive in markets — and I believe that. Markets aren’t just places to buy and sell; they’re spaces to belong. They’re where makers and messengers meet. Where you get to meet who made your clothes, or pottery. Where inspiration is tangible and community is sewn into every seam. So it’s no wonder KC and I found each other there.
Fast-forward to this June 2025, and I found myself back in the flow — now in Redding, Connecticut — where I brought my sister (a new mom just seven weeks postpartum) to take a drive and soak in some soul medicine. We bee-lined to KC’s stand. Same girl. Same vision. Still evolving.
We tried on denim. We laughed. We took photos. We met each other again — a little older, a little wiser, still totally aligned. My sister turned to me after and said, “You two are definitely from the same place.”
Whether that means the same planet, the same past life, or simply the same frequency — I’ll take it. Because connection like that is rare.
Why Krop Jeans Mission Matters
What KC is doing with Krop Jeans isn’t trendy. It’s timeless. And it’s rooted in a respect for craft, community, and conscious design. Even if she’s not yet working with global artisans (a dream she’s spoken about), she is an artisan in her own right — one who sees fashion not as fast, but as felt.
“It was the day I saw The True Cost that something clicked,” she said. “I didn’t just want to make clothes — I wanted to change fashion. To shift it toward something more thoughtful, more human.”
And she has. Every high-end market she joins. Every customer she educates. Every piece of denim she breathes new life into.
A Final Note from a Fellow Market Girl
I’ve lived in Miami, New York, and now travel often — but no matter where I go, I always feel most at home among the creatives and collectors at makers markets. Because that’s where stories live. That’s where people like KC remind us what fashion can be.
I wrote this blog not just as a reflection, but as a thank you — to the markets that birthed our connection, and to the woman who keeps stitching purpose into every pair of pants.
Here’s to more afternoons under tents. To vintage finds. To full-circle moments.
To KC — and to all the women crafting a better future, one thread at a time.
🫶🏼
by Valerie Jana
Founder, Locals World
