Kinky Kontrol

01/26/2025

Still a bit untidy but turning and churning and in constant organization mode. One box at a time. Of course, printing and idea jotting here on the . Hope you’re all safe and doing well. Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday. And thank you to creative people who make and do things that inspire others. And Soapy. 😘😼

01/20/2025

Birthday weekend spectacular. I tend to do my best Houdini act to get out of celebrating or calling attention to my birthday, down to quietly letting it pass without letting anyone know. For close to the last decade this little Kinky company was really a Kontrolling needy baby of unending attention seeking, and I literally had no time for such trivialities anyway. For whatever reason, in some ways lazy timing and an impromptu whim, I decided to make my life anniversary a thing this year. I suppose there’s catharsis involved as well now that I’ve wrestled my life back from the business and all but refuse to run it 24/7 stress buckets like I’ve been since the inception. The fire and closure of the East LA store made me take stock in what’s important to me—namely family and friends and art—and I decided to figure out a new way to do things. I’ve really taken the quality of life injection that had vastly been absent. Making music again. Writing. Little trips. Exercising. Cooking. Spending time with my fur babies. Watching movies. You know, all the things I lost when I decided to start a business. I had to deliver merch to Goodwin Club Saturday, and I looked at the bill and was like, s**t all my friends are going to be there. Little do they know they’re attending my birthday party now. And so it was. It was great. Didn’t have to worry about playing and being sloppy, so I could party all I wanted. Got to chat up and reunite with some of my favorite faces. Woke up the next morning and Super Sanchez made me my most favoritist pasta, carbonara, from scratch. Guanciale and all. I even ordered myself a little birthday sampler and it arrived early! Monday the 20th is the official day, and I’ll be taking the day off to chill, make beats, celebrate life and the life and works of David Lynch (who’s birthday is also Monday) and take stock in the little things that make life grand. Great seeing everyone and losing my voice from doing river calls all night. Thanks for the hugs and love. Like my uncle Dave always says, Life is good! Owwwwww! 🎉

11/12/2024

The heavy lifting is complete. Now all that’s left is the fun part. Arranging and shaping into a comfortable creative work space. KKHQIV is about to lift off. Loving this space so far. Today we did heavy stuff. This might sound funny but I’m really stoked and giddy to have this massive 3 section garment table. I’ve always operated with a single because I never had space to connect all three. This opens up the shop to so many possibilities of workflow, brainstorming and spewing out of ideas. Thanks to the homie Cesarito for always answering the call when I need him most and helping me lift and assemble these beastly garment tables that weigh like a million pounds each. And also for the accidental “1,2,3, one more of these” sample that I am now absolutely going to chop and turn into a sick break beat on my new Ableton Move groove box I can finally break out and play with tonight after my shower. Landlord popped in while we were muchin’ lunch n’ I told him about a brainstorm I had when I pulled up on the church in session yesterday. (In case you missed it, my new shop is behind a salvadorean church.) It was Sunday and they were in full church mode. They had a little food stand outside where they were vending pupusas, and my mind went straight to “pop up!!” (And cheesecake for no apparent reason.) I’ve been dying to get my little gift shop back in action so I asked him if he’d mind if I threw a little artsy fartsy vendy event out front when the church wasn’t using it. Not only was he all for it but he said I could use his storage space that is under my shop, that flows into the alley and block out the alley for an even bigger event! Hey girls! That is going to happen!! So hey if you’re a vendor and have interest in a back alley gathering of the tribes, holla at ya boi. I might even try to push my luck and have some live entertainment going. Let me finish getting set up and then we’ll get to planning on a sick Christmas event. While being forced to move a month before my lease was up was an expensive, inconvenient bummer, the fallout wasn’t half bad at all. This is gonna be awesummmm…mwauh! 😘

11/11/2024

Four stores and seven beers ago… tag yourself. I can’t believe General Fridgeman is still kicking it after all this time and abuse. There was a time when it was just me, my press and this fridge. Not much had changed but the hoarding. She was in bad shape this last move. Basically sat around after the last move collecting mildew and decay and the mover broke her door. I gave her a deep clean and some tlc last night and she’s looking good as punk. My back is broken today from going hardcore yesterday. Back at it tomorrow to break it some more. 🙇🏻

03/04/2024

Quiet Season Sale 🤙 - https://mailchi.mp/2ab8e3e29b9e/quiet-season-sale

12/19/2023

ICYMI we had so much fun last weekend, we decided to do a bonus sale day Saturday the 23rd. Blanks, prints, totes and more at fire sale rate of $1/lb. Clearance items. And some brand new merch put out for the first time this weekend. Plushies. Blind boxes. Japanese characters. Brand new onesies. Puzzles. Toys. More. Come grab some last minute gifts. Ah yes and free commemorative Kilimanjaro posters. After this it’s all getting packed up and moved into storage. Thank you so much for showing up and bidding the store a fond farewell. We appreciate your support and kindness! ❤️

12/08/2023

The time has come to say good bye, East LA. I know it’s gonna make me cry. But this year was a little too much, and it’s time for a reset. I’m having a little farewell sidewalk sale December 16th and 17th. Stuff that we are clearing out. Brand new stuff that isn’t online yet. (Like, really cool stuff!) Loads of Ts for two bucks. Retail fixtures. Screen printing gear. As much as I can organize and put out on the sidewalk. Come get some good deals. Some last minute holiday gifts. This is gonna be a hasty hot mess of a sale, but it’s gonna be a lot of fun. Come help me close the books on this year on a good note. Come just to hang because I love seeing you. Kick back and have a beer. Sure, why not? Looking forward to seeing you soon! ❤️

11/29/2023

https://gofund.me/3064343e

My old & dear friend Tina (who some may recognize from the OEO/JAA “Nerds” split) asked if she could start a fund for me when the fire happened. I didn’t feel like I needed it at the time. I had just gotten a grant. I was focused on my six year anniversary. The party happened, & everything was great.
Then the dust started settling and reality came creeping in. Fire swallowed up just about all of that grant. I didn’t get to use it for growing. Just repairing. I mean thank god for that thing, but… Every time I turn around I find something else affected by this fire. Chems are turned. Screens are popped. Inks are petrified. In all, I lost over $25K in equipment and supplies. I couldn’t even reclaim a screen last week because the reclaimer had soured. I called Tina back and said, yeah, you know what. If you wanna do that thing let’s go ahead with it.
Basically I’m back to when the shop was empty but for my original generic “Bob Brown” press, flash dryer, belt dryer and washout booth. Remember that? Just me, Kinki, Mr T and the occasional alley cat? Kinda nostalgic, I must say.
I’m going back to a FT day job next week once I tie up the major loose ends with the fire. Desk by day, shop rat by night. Yep. Just like the old days.
This fund will bridge the gap and help get the shop boxed up and in storage so repairs can be made.
From there, a decision can be made as to the future of Kinky Kontrol.
Yesterday even my awesome accountant was like, “kid, you got hit hard this year. I know you love it and this is your life, but… You sure about all this?”
I can still do jobs. I’ve got my old press, heat presses, pin presses, partners, etc.
The year has been a total wash. The Superpapoo inside me can’t end it on a note like this. That alone is my motivation. Time toooo GET UP!
Listen, I don’t expect anything from this. I’ve asked a ton from you this year. I’m grateful to have friends like you. I honestly can’t wait to get back to work so I can stop all this groveling.
Fund link is in the bio. If you can share this, tell a friend, buy me a coffee, order merch, leave me a review, send me posi vibes, whatever. Love you. Respect you. Thank you for being in my corner. ❤️ Kebin

11/25/2023

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SALE TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY! 🔆🔆
Make Your Own Custom Merch And Save!
2 Doz – 4 Doz Ts $75 Off
5 Doz – 8 Doz Ts $125 Off
9 Doz – 13 Doz Ts $150 Off
14 Doz+ Ts 20% OFF
https://mailchi.mp/b6136a222e3f/kinky-kontrol-six-year-anniversary-preview-16867292

11/20/2023

BIG FAT SALE FOR SMALL BIZ SATURDAY 🦃 And, hey, we’ll let it run to the end of the month. We’re a small biz and need all the edge we can get on the Black Friday Behemoths. So reach out and LET’S MAKE MERCH! [email protected] to get this party started. Don't write us here, ain't nobody home.
- https://mailchi.mp/091fc382208f/kinky-kontrol-six-year-anniversary-preview-16866776

11/16/2023

Sales and Merch Experience A Must

Kinky Kontrol in East LA seeking local outbound sales person to bring in new accounts and work. Do you know custom merch decorating/apparel? Do you have sales experience? Are you friendly, cordial...

11/14/2023

Six Year Anniversary Party was a great way to book end a challenging year. Through it all there’s refuge in the company of friends. I appreciate everyone who made it happen, participated, played, pitched in, helped, hung out, surprised, delighted and just plain showed up. There were times it looked like it might not fly but we overcame the extra obstacles, and it made the night that much more special when we not only pulled it off, but made it so aesthetically beautiful. Not even the cops coming to bust up the party put a damper on the night. Skapeche got to finish out the last set after all. Too many people to thank. Y’all know who you are, and how special you are to me. Big hugs. 🤗 Here’s to an upward ‘24 for you and for me. Here’s to six more anniversary parties at Kinky. At least! Until the next!✌🏽

11/04/2023

Alright, got a schedule for you! It’s loosely based so expect it to slip off the rails a bit. But this’ll give you a close approximation at least. See you soon!

10/30/2023

Six Year Anniversary Party This Saturday @ Kinky Kontrol HQ! Also Last Week Of Sale! - https://mailchi.mp/65a6ab21d630/kinky-kontrol-six-year-anniversary-preview-16864624

10/23/2023

The Shop Caught On Fire, 🔥 But We're Still Checking In - https://mailchi.mp/935ceaf686ec/kinky-kontrol-six-year-anniversary-preview-16863828

10/12/2023

Don’t feel cute. Will absolutely delete later. I knew this was coming. I’ve been so behind @ home, I’m honestly surprised it took this long. Listen guys. This post is painfully embarrassing for me, especially knowing that I’m not the only one out there hurting. Especially being an entity that asks you spend money with me. I can feel the pain all around me. And in some ways that’s how I got here. Custom merch tends to be a low priority in tough times. And things bottomed out for me hard this year. I’ve always felt like I could grind my way out of anything, and it has been just that as long as I’ve had this business. The ironic (best?) part is that things have been feeling like they’re slowly turning around. But three days to come up with $1700 just as that is happening is intense. I really don’t want to doom vent about all that went upside down this year again. Up until a few weeks ago the reason I’ve been making much ado about my sixth year in biz was because I was about to announce my retirement at that anniversary party and return to the workforce—to be completely transparent. The stress day in and out has absolutely killed me. But a series of recent fortunate events has given me new fight the last handful of weeks. I plan to press forward after all. It’s just not going to save me from this. I still have so much ground to make up that what I make on every job already has a designation to something I’m paying down. I don’t want to carry on about woah is me. I don’t want to lose my home. It feels especially obnoxious to be here doing this when so many of you have already been insanely generous with me when things were at their peak worst. But alas here I am once again seeking a helping hand, and man, do I hope it’s the last time. Because the next time I’d just as soon quietly fold up the tent and move back to Japan. If you’ve got advice for me in this situation please DM me. My Venmo is if you are able to spare a couple bucks. If not, don’t worry I don’t expect it or feel good about asking. I appreciate you sticking with me all these years. Thank you for your valuable time and amazing support. Humbly yours, Kebin 🩵

09/21/2023

New fun and funny things to hang from your (Lisa) lobes! Come see the fare! Deep cuts guaranteed. ✌🏽