Kin Apparel Update | Shark Tank Season 13

Philomina Kane found that cotton fabrics caused friction, which damaged natural hair and left it frizzy. In response, she developed Kin Apparel, a line of satin-lined hoodies and accessories. The satin protects hairstyles while locking in moisture, giving wearers healthier hair. In our Kin Apparel update and pitch recap, we’ll find out if Philomena’s silky smooth pitch led to a deal for her company.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Kin Apparel after Shark Tank.

Philomina entered Shark Tank Season 13, seeking $200,000 for 10% equity in her satin-lined hoodies. After her pitch, she struck a deal with Lori Greiner and guest shark Emma Grede for $200,000 for 30% equity.

In terms of a Kin Apparel update, the company received over 1,000 orders on the night the episode aired. And the company reportedly reached $8 million in lifetime revenue and received several individual recognitions.

Shark:	Result:
Emma Grede and Lori Greiner	Accepted deal of $200,000 for 30% equity
Mark Cuban	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer

Shark Tank Kin Apparel Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Philomina Kane
• Business: Satin-lined hoodies for natural hair
• Ask: $200,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $200,000 for 30% equity
• Shark: Lori Greiner and Emma Grede

Philomina opened her pitch with a question. She asked the sharks who owned a hoodie and who used hair care products. Every hand went up.

She then introduced Kin Apparel, her line of satin-lined hoodies designed to protect hair while offering comfort and style.

She explained how the product worked. Satin linings help retain moisture and prevent breakage and frizz. Unlike cotton, which causes friction, satin is smooth and gentle on all hair types.

Kin Apparel, she said, was built with inclusivity in mind, so the hoodies benefit people with every kind of hair.

Next, Philomina shared her background. She was born in Ghana and moved to the United States with her parents when she was young.

She earned a scholarship to Princeton University and graduated with a degree in Ecological Biology.

During her time at Princeton, she faced a personal struggle. Stress damaged her hair, and with no family nearby to help, she eventually cut it short.

Later, she began wearing satin scarves under her hoodies to protect her hair. That simple routine sparked the idea for Kin Apparel.

Philomina also spoke about the online platform that fueled her business. As NaturallyPhilo on YouTube, she had built an audience of nearly 200,000 subscribers.

Her videos, focused on natural hair care for women of color, had been viewed more than 11 million times. She used this platform to promote healthy hair practices and wanted products that aligned with her message.

She even turned down an acceptance to Columbia’s School of Public Health so she could focus fully on YouTube and Kin Apparel.

Philomina then handed out samples of her products. The hoodies were produced in China on a preorder basis.

They cost $16.75 landed and retailed for $80, giving her about $60 profit per unit. While she also offered satin-lined hats, beanies, and pillowcases, she told the sharks that hoodies remained her biggest seller.

Barbara Corcoran asked about sales. Philomina explained that in 2020, her first year, Kin Apparel brought in $246,000 in revenue.

By mid-2021, she had already reached $355,000. At the time of her pitch, she still had $150,000 in the bank, and overall sales had crossed $550,000 since launch.

Kevin O’Leary pressed her on inventory. Philomina admitted she had fewer than 500 units in stock.

Most of her sales came through preorders, which often left customers waiting weeks for their hoodies. She explained that this was her biggest challenge and a key reason she needed investment.

Mark Cuban then asked about her operations. Philomina said she mostly ran the business alone. She needed guidance to stay focused and additional capital to increase inventory.

At the same time, she highlighted her strength in marketing. Thanks to her viral social media presence, she had grown Kin Apparel without spending anything on customer acquisition.

As she shared her journey, she grew emotional. She revealed that her family had not supported her decision to leave academics behind. However, she explained that she had since made peace with them.

The sharks then responded. Kevin went out first, saying he had never found success investing in hair care products.

Barbara followed. She called Philomina “chaotic poetry in motion” and said she needed a steady partner more than an investor.

Mark agreed with Barbara. He liked the product but thought Philomina still had too much to learn.

That left guest shark Emma Grede and Lori Greiner. Emma praised Kin Apparel’s mission and said retailers were eager to support Black female-founded brands.

She saw strong potential in the company. Together with Lori, she offered $300,000 for 30% equity.

Philomina tried to negotiate. She countered at 20%, then at 25%. Emma and Lori stood firm.

Philomina, holding back tears, thanked them for believing in her.

In the end, she accepted their original offer and walked away with a deal..

To find out what happened next for her company, keep reading our Kin Apparel update.

Shark Tank Kin Apparel Update

In our Kin Apparel update, we found that after the show aired and due diligence was done, only Emma Grede stayed on as an investor.

The terms were reworked, and she became the sole partner, buying in at half the price and half the equity of the original deal. Philomina shared this herself in a CNBC interview.

On the night the episode aired, demand skyrocketed. Within hours, the company received over 1,000 new orders. And by the following months, revenue doubled, jumping to $700,000, and by the end of 2021, Kin Apparel had brought in $1.3 million.

In the years since, growth has kept climbing. As of the last updated revenue count in July 2024, lifetime revenue comfortably sat at $8 million. And even a successful WeFunder crowdfunding campaign that raised $341,280.

Philomina also secured new funding outside of Shark Tank. In late 2023, she won $75,000 from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize, which supports Black-founded businesses making measurable progress.

She was also chosen for Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2024, and that year, Kin Apparel projected $3 million in revenue.

To handle growth and keep scaling, Kin Apparel partnered with Indie Do Good, a women-owned fulfillment center. The company also started exploring retail opportunities in addition to online sales. By 2024, its presence had grown far beyond hoodies.

When we checked their website for this update, here are some of the products on display: satin-lined hoodies in many styles, hats, matching sets, dresses, and accessories.

The lineup includes thin hoodies, windbreakers, teddy fleece, travel sets, bucket hats, pillowcases, car headrest covers, and more.

The brand often runs big promotions, with sales as high as 60% off and seasonal offers like back-to-school discounts. Celebrities and public figures have also worn Kin Apparel, including Trevor Noah and NBA player Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

The company has appeared in several major features. In 2024, The U.S. Sun highlighted Kin Apparel for solving the everyday problem of “hat hair” while protecting natural hairstyles.

Around the same time, Philomina appeared in a JPMorgan Chase national TV commercial to share her story.

Philomina was invited to speak at ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2024, where she talked about the importance of authenticity in brand building.

She’s also expanded her global team, working with employees across Philadelphia, Delaware, Norway, and Nigeria.

Philomina has even discussed exploring AI-based styling tools to help customers choose the right fit and look.

You can also join their growing community on Instagram.

Philomina is solid proof that black owned women entrepreneurs are also killing it after Shark Tank.

We can’t wait to report more success stories about Philomina in our next Kin Apparel update.

In the meantime, be sure to check out more company updates from Shark Tank Season 13 Episode 1:

• Uprising Food Update
• Lion Latch Update
• Pashko Apparel Update

For more on Shark Tank Season 13, be sure to check out our Season 13 products page.