My Brand's Name

My full name is Kathryn Ann Young, but I’ve always been known as “Katie.” Growing up, being called “Kathryn Ann” typically meant I was in trouble. So, when I created my brand name in 2022, I often got questions about why I chose to use my full name—one that most people didn't associate with me.

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The answer is simple: I was named after two of the most important women in my life. My father’s mother, Shelia Kathryn Young, and my mother’s mother, Pauline Ann Hall, who sadly passed away in February 2025. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without these two incredible women, and I am so grateful to call them my grandmothers. They taught me the importance of family, helped me through school, and have always been there for me.

My grandmother Sheila was a self-made woman. She owned a successful knitting business, was a landlord, and invested in stocks. I have vivid memories from my childhood of walking to her house down the street for visits. I loved watching her work hard at her business, and even helping out by making pom-poms for the tops of her custom hats.

She always chose the harder path and was extremely careful with her spending. She wanted to teach all of her grandkids the value of hard work and the simplicity of life. When we visited her, we always walked, even in the worst weather. We didn’t watch TV, instead we read from her collection of pop-up books or did crafts. Every Thanksgiving, she would come over the night before, and we’d all peel potatoes together with one of her many gadgets. It didn’t matter how old we were; she wanted to show us what real hard work looked like.

At the time, I didn’t fully understand. I often wished we could drive to the library when it was raining, play video games when we were bored, or get ice cream from the ice cream truck every now and then. But now that I’m older, I realize how fortunate I was. My grandmother wasn’t keeping us from treats or “fun”; she was investing in our futures and teaching us the value of getting our hands dirty.

She instilled in me an incredible work ethic and a “do-it-yourself” mindset that I’m deeply grateful for. The investments and sacrifices she made have shaped our entire family. Without her hard work, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Although we’ve all teased her for her simple lifestyle, I can’t wait to be just like her. As I work to grow my business, I think back to the times when I was making pom-poms on her front porch instead of playing Webkinz, and all I can say is thank you. My grandmother has always been an inspiration, and I’m so proud to share my first name with part of her name.

My grandmother, Pauline Ann, lived one of the most inspiring lives I’ve ever known. As the youngest of her seventeen grandchildren, I can confidently say that she is the reason family means so much to me. She and my grandfather are the foundation of our family, and thanks to them, I get to enjoy holidays surrounded by my favorite people.

After her passing, my grandfather shared some of his favorite memories with her, recalling trips they took together with her sisters. He said there was a special bond between them that you could feel whenever they were together. I can’t help but hope that when I’m spending time with my two sisters and twin brother—whether it’s going out for food or playing a game together—someone might feel that same bond when they’re around us.

My favorite memories have always been with my family. Whether it was playing games outside as kids, having family volleyball games during COVID, or simply enjoying a meal together, those are the moments I will cherish forever.

While my grandfather is often seen as the head of our family, providing for his six children and building up three successful businesses from the ground, my grandmother was right there beside him every step of the way. She found a way every day to put a hearty dinner on the table and make do with whatever they had. Despite the difficult times they faced during their 67 years of marriage, my grandmother always trusted that they would get through it together.

I’ll never forget the times I spent at my grandparents' house, especially when I’d find my grandmother up in her art room. My siblings and I would dig through a bin of her “bad paintings,” each of us picking out a piece to take home. She was a humble woman with incredible artistic talent, and I’m lucky to have grown up surrounded by her beautiful paintings on the walls.

My family often wonders how none of us inherited her artistic abilities. While I can barely draw stick figures, I like to think it’s her creativity that inspires my digital designs. I may never be the artist she was, but I believe my passion for creating comes from her. I can picture her, just as I am now, spending hours at peace in her art room, painting and doing what she loves.

As I grow older, I hope to live a life like hers. She taught me almost everything I know about love, being a mom, and creativity. She truly found her life partner and created a beautiful family with grace—and a touch of sarcasm. If I can be even half as creative and talented as she was, and have a family half as wonderful as the one she built, I will feel just as lucky as the inspiring woman I share a middle name with.

While I may be “Katie” to many, the roots that have shaped me into the person I am today are found in my full name: Kathryn Ann. This name represents where I learned the importance of hard work, how to be an aspiring businesswoman, and how to channel creativity—values I could never have embraced without the support of my loving family. I want my brand to forever reflect these values, because they are what make me, me. Even though I’m “Katie” to most, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the incredible women who came before me and gave me my name.