WASHINGTON — Made in America by refugees. It's the first thing you see, in bold print, when you pick up the newest Kin & Care candle. For the two immigrant women behind the product line, it's a badge of honor.
The candle, which can be found at Olive & Loom, is called "Madam VP" and is supposed to smell like Cherry Blossoms, a staple of any D.C. spring.
The daughter of immigrants, Kamala Harris is the first Black, South Asian woman to become vice president of the United States. It is a trailblazing moment that Kin & Care hopes its candles will play a small part in memorializing. The creators said the candle is intended to "make waves and spark conversation." But it also holds personal meaning for co-owner Ferzan Jaeger.
"It's symbolic to all of us, especially to me as an immigrant woman, that my daughter someday could be where [Kamala Harris] is."
The candle is a part of Kin & Care's "Icon Collection," which pays tribute to a variety of women, including Maya Angelou, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dolly Parton and Frida Kahlo.
The artwork design was custom commissioned by a local DMV artist, Violet Red Studios, further highlighting a local angle to a moment that will be shared across the nation at Wednesday's inauguration.
"We wanted to release a collection in collaboration with a local artist that we love here in our local DMV area," Jaeger said. "She does portraits of iconic women throughout history, so we decided it was a good idea to make them into candles."
The candles are said to burn up to 40 hours and are sold online. To learn more about Kin & Care, click here.
