We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Masha a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Masha, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
Generosity is one of my favorite words. It feels soft, but also deeply rooted in action. For me, it began at home in Almaty, Kazakhstan where i grew up. My mom created a world where there was always food on the table, not just for us, but for whoever walked through the door. She loved hosting dinners, birthdays, holidays, every day felt like a celebration of something special. My dad, always supportive, made sure those gatherings had everything they needed to feel just like my mom wanted them to be. I didn’t grow up in a big family, but it felt full. Full of people, full of giving, and always full of warmth.
That kind of giving didn’t have any expectation and it became a quiet blueprint for how I move through the world.
When I started KINAClub, it was with that same spirit. I wanted to share what I had to offer my knowledge, my process, my mistakes. I wanted to share it with founders who didn’t have access to the inside of the industry. We work with people building from the ground up, and I realized early on that part of the work wasn’t just about delivering design but about offering guidance, space, and belief. That’s why we’re now thinking of opening up even more: offering classes, publishing resources, creating something communal. I think generosity, at its best, makes things feel less lonely. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted KINAClub to be: a place where people feel less alone and enjoy the process together.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started my design career working for larger brands such as Reebok and The North Face. There were some of my first real experience inside a legacy brands, and I always got lucky with my teams. I was exposed to so many great opportunities and learning experiences early on and had incredible mentors along the way. I was surrounded by people who had done this work for decades; pattern makers, product manages, designers, athletes, i can go on and on. I was able to travel abroad for development trips and spend time on site with the factories, i was managing quite a bit of work at an early stage which was a challenging but extremely beneficial for my future steps. As a side note, all of this wasn’t just handed to me, i was pushing myself tremendously to be noticed i was asking tons of questions and making meaningful connection every single day at my job.
As I kept going, I realized I wanted something smaller. More human. Something with less hierarchy and more room for creativity and learning. That’s why I started KINAclub.
KINAclub is a creative studio that helps early-stage brands build technical, thoughtful product from the ground up. We offer full-spectrum support which includes, concept, design, development and sourcing. We work closely with founders, connecting them to the best manufacturers in the word for their production and help navigate the product development process from start to finish.
Right now we’re growing; working with some exciting clients, expanding our team, and building tools to make the process more transparent. We’re also planning to launch an open-source blog soon for people who want to learn how to build apparel themselves. Maybe even tap into the educational space and host some master classes on technical design. We are working hard everyday and innovating constantly. Living in that is a true privilege and i am excited to see where this journey will evolve.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Curiosity, stamina, and taste. Those three have shaped everything for me.
Curiosity was always the starting point. Even thought i had a traditional design education, i learned most of my skills on the job. Asked a lot of questions and paid attention to what made things work. I sat in rooms with people who knew more than me and just listened. If you stay curious, people will usually show you what they know.
Stamina kept me in the game. Building a career in a creative field can be brutal. There are long nights, tons of constructive criticism, a lot of problem solving in a fast paste environment. But I kept going and kept discovering what resonated the most. Doesn’t matter how talented you are consistency and discipline will move the needle in your career.
And taste… taste is the quiet compass. I’ve always cared about what things feel like, not just how they function. That inner sense of what is good, what’s honest, what feels right, is something I’ve protected and refined over time. Taste is something everyone notices and that creates instant trust and helps a lot during any design challenge.
If you’re early in your journey, my advice is simple: be around people doing the work you want to do, even if you’re not ready yet. Take the job, even if it’s small. Show up. Pay attention. And don’t rush the process, it truly takes time to build something that is meaningful.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
An ideal client is someone who cares deeply and has a clear vision. About their product, their values, and the people they’re making things for. I love working with founders who are in it for the long run and who aren’t chasing trends, but are building something with meaning.
It doesn’t matter if they’re new or experienced. What matters is that they’re open, collaborative, and understand the importance of process. The best partnerships I’ve had are with clients who are curious, respectful of craft, and willing to invest in doing things well, even if the process takes time and both of us are learning through it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kina-club.com/
- Instagram: kina.club_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masha-kurguzkina-b271b6129/
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