In 2011, Karrie Dean—owner of KC-based blanket company Happy Habitat—found herself at a crossroads when she was laid off from her job at a local advertising firm. Did she want to find another 9-to-5 or go her own way?
“I wanted to do something I was fascinated with that could hopefully resonate with other people,” Dean says. “It all started with patterns.”
Inspired by a trip to southern Spain she had taken after graduating college, Dean was drawn to the region’s intricate, geometric tilework. “Even a crappy subway bathroom would have them,” she says. “They were so beautiful, and it was just a part of everyday life.”
But Dean didn’t want to sell something purely decorative; she wanted to create a practical product for everyday life. She landed on blankets. “A throw provided a function—physical and emotional warmth,” she says.
Guided by pattern and color, Dean began teaching herself graphic design and creating mock-ups of blankets.
Happy Habitat recently celebrated its 14th anniversary in business. The KC-based company has been featured twice in the New York Times in the past year and can be found in a growing list of hotels beyond individual sales—including KC’s Crossroads Hotel.
Self-described as a “modern heirloom,” Happy Habitat’s recycled cotton throws are perfect for snuggling up on the sofa with a warm beverage in hand this fall. Although the blankets are buttery soft, they’re sturdy enough to withstand the washing machine.
“I didn’t want to put a throwaway product on the market—I wanted something that would withstand a lifetime,” Dean says. “I also wanted to create something elegant and beautiful but user-friendly.”
Shop Happy Habitat’s collection in person at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s gift shop (4525 Oak St., KCMO) and urbAna (19 On The Mall, Prairie Village) or online at happyhabitat.com.
