Kinfolk was created by Nathan Williams, his wife Katie Searle-Williams and their friends Doug and Paige Bischoff in July 2011. Primarily a lifestyle magazine aimed at young professionals, it focuses on home, work, play, food and community through photo essays, recipes, interviews, profiles, personal stories and practical tips. The writers, photographers, designers and chefs who contribute to Kinfolk are drawn from a largely international pool of creative people, often featuring more than 50 individual contributors an issue. Released quarterly, each issue is themed around a topic that is related to the season it is being published in, with all food, entertaining and lifestyle content geared towards that theme. Sample articles include interviews with well-known chefs, sample themed menus with accompanying recipes, illustrated guides to daily encounters and inspirational photo essays encouraging readers to try new activities. In addition to its print publication, Kinfolk organizes monthly "community gathering" events that take place around the world, each based on a seasonal theme such as flower potlucks, butcher's block parties and campfire cooking. These events take place concurrently and aim to unite the global community of Kinfolk readers while also offering practical advice and lessons. The company also produces international food-based workshops, cookbooks and a short film series.
Reception
Kinfolk has been praised for its clean design and photographic aesthetic. Portland Monthly has described it as creating "a distinct ripple in the publishing world" with "an aesthetic all its own." The New York Times called the magazine "the Martha Stewart Living of the Portland Set", saying that the city "may have officially out-twee'd itself" with Kinfolk.
International versions
In addition to its American readership, Kinfolk also has a growing international following. The magazine is published in Chinese and Korean, and the company launched a Japanese edition in 2013.
Other publications
In October 2013, Kinfolk published its debut cookbook, The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings, through Artisan Books. It contains 85 traditional recipes supplied by the families of the extended Kinfolk community, including examples from Portland, Brooklyn, Copenhagen, England and other international locations. Kinfolk published its second side publication in October 2015, an interior design book named The Kinfolk Home. This publication was also made through Artisan Books. The book featured homes from several countries and regions, including Japan, France and Scandinavia.
