Fashion

The origin of a brand can often be traced to a single, tangible moment of discovery. For Nayla Haddad, that moment was defined by a sensation, the unexpected comfort of a pair of pyjamas found in Portugal. The garment felt less like clothing and more like a second skin. It became a personal staple, its feel-good fabric creating a daily reluctance to part with it, even for a spin in the laundry. 

This hands-on experience, this intimate understanding of a material’s sensorial potential, sparked a question – why does something this comfortable not exist for everyone? That question became the foundation of One of a Kin. It launched Haddad on a year-long journey from the composition tag, which revealed the 32 fabric as Modal Micro, to the sustainable beech forests of Austria, through scientific claims and a global network of certified manufacturers. She was driven by a vision to share this discovery, first with her children, and then with the world.

 The name itself is a piece of poetry that took three months to perfect. “It plays on ‘one of a kind,’ which is what our product is about,” Haddad explains. “But it carries three meanings.” She breaks them down with the clarity of a brand manager, which she once was. Kin, she says, as in family, because comfort begins with belonging. Kind, because they are kind to the skin and to the planet. And skin, as in closeness, what touches us most deeply. This triple-layered philosophy is the brand’s bedrock. In clothing where people are often preoccupied with the visual, One of a Kin is built on the intangible – that alluring feeling of a second skin, the quiet ritual of sleep, and the sense of personal wellbeing that comes from what you wear when no one is watching. The Modal Micro fabric, derived from sustainably harvested beech trees, is more than a selling point. It acts as a scientific ally in rest, offering temperature regulation and breathability that surpasses cotton.

“I truly believe in the era we are in, we need to be conscious about fashion’s effect on the climate.”

This commitment to sustainability was both a philosophical and a business decision for Haddad. “I truly believe in the era we are in, we need to be conscious about fashion’s effect on the climate,” she states. Aligning with the UAE’s 2050 vision for net zero felt like a way to root her homegrown brand in the future of her home. “It was a sign,” she says. “That’s it. Go for it.” Going for it meant navigating the predictable turbulence of a new venture. The brand grew so quickly that it doubled its revenue every quarter for its first year, a “great problem to have” that led to constant inventory chess games with a three-month fabric lead time. Then came the challenge of selling softness online. “Once you touch my product, there is no way you will not get it,” Haddad says. The proof is in a staggering metric, 40 to 50% of their monthly sales come from returning customers.

A pivotal nudge came from an unexpected place, the Dubai Shark Tank. Approached via a direct message that seemed “too random to be legit,” Haddad, a self-confessed Shark Tank devo tee, saw an opportunity. At just eleven months old, her already profitable business faced the sharks. “It was the most challenging and stressful experience ever,” she recalls. Yet, her preparation and conviction were unwavering. In a rare outcome, she fought for and secured her exact terms. The appearance was a catalyst, propelling sales to heights she describes as “mind-blowing,” with revenue now five times what it was the previous year. This growth is anchored in Haddad’s vision of a holistic luxury experience. One of the Kin does not merely sell pyjamas. A QR code on each garment unlocks a curated sleep playlist through a partnership with the Calm app, extending the brand’s mission from skin-deep comfort to mental tranquillity.

They craft a dedicated ‘Sleep Body’ product from production off-cuts, with all its profits donated to Dubai Cares, weaving community support directly into the business model. This sense of family extends from the community back into her own home. For Haddad, being a “Tiger Mom” to her children, Mark and Lynn, is not separate from her role as an entrepreneur. The drive, care, and compassion are one and the same. Her children are her “why,” and they are fully immersed in the journey, even making a surprise appearance on Shark Tank. “For them to see that if you work hard, you can create something, make something big out of an idea… it’s a great example to give them.”

With plans for global expansion and new category launches, Haddad’s passion remains boundless. She envisions One of a Kin as a global name in the homewear space, a brand that covers every aspect of those most personal moments of rest, recharging and relaxation. She has built a world around a simple, profound desire for comfort. And her work redefines luxury, moving how it is benchmarked from external appearance to internal feeling. That deeply powerful sense of being comforted, cared for, and completely at home.

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Images: Supplied