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Swank In The City

Find all things style at Birmingham's Found Objects.

LISA ROSE HOOK I SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

F

ashionisto Zach Kay is a unique
find. Co-owner of Found Objects in
Birmingham, Kay's affinity toward all
things stylized was finessed during his
education at Cranbrook Academy in Bloomfield
Hills, where he honed his love of textiles. He
furthered those skills at the renowned Parson's
New School for Design in New York City.
While at Cranbrook, Kay spent hours in the
art studio culling his affinity toward fibers,
something that came as naturally to him as
his strong work ethic. He fell into his chosen
profession almost effortlessly, he says, as though
driven by a greater force. Perhaps his mother,
Laurie Kay, had a little influence. One thing's
clear — good taste runs in the Kay family.
Leaving Michigan seemed natural, he says.
He'd grown to love New York from family trips,
and his hard work at Cranbrook drove him to
discover the possibilities. His education, he says,
shaped his destiny.
"I think that pushed me toward Parson's,"
said Kay, who had his bar mitzvah at Temple
Israel. Once on campus, he felt he had a distinct
advantage from his studies. "What was foreign
to so many was second nature to me as a result
of going to Cranbrook."
While at Parson's, he was all in — working as
soon as he had the opportunity.
"I think one of the great things about Parson's

is that once you're in New York it puts you in
touch with people in the industry," he says. "I
fell into an internship because I worked with
designers big and small — almost all of them
are still some of my closest friends to this day."
Among those pals are Canadian twins
Dean and Dan Caten of DSQUARED 2 . Formally
schooled in Versace and Diesel, the dynamic duo
broke out on their own with an energetic and
colorful collection in Milan. They moved on to
London, and their international fashion house
has quite a loyal following.
When Kay was ready to return to Birmingham,
he and his mother, Laurie, who worked in the
archives at Cranbrook, conceived the idea of
Found Objects around the concept of bringing
the cosmopolitan shopping experience to the
Midwest. They initially housed a wide variety
of merchandise, focusing mainly on women's
fashions, but over the years, the yearning for
their sought-after designs has narrowed the
scope to make it more of a boutique.
From a fetch set of foodie dice to an uber-chic
crisp little white dress from Milly by Michelle,
they deliver what style seekers want and then
some ... without having to scour the Internet or
board a plane.
Kay's business philosophy is simple: He
says his goal is to allow their discriminating
customers to buy the things they were buying in

Swank In The City on page 62

Zach Kay in the store

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A.L.C. dresses

Alexandra Ferguson pillows

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April 30 • 2015

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