Kandi Lightner, Designer
Kaiya Eve made its mark in 2002 when Los Angeles based designer, Kandi Lightner, created a one-of-a-kind vintage line of petticoats. Kandi traveled the nation in search of the most beautiful vintage petticoats. “I was able to make at least three skirts for little girls out of a single vintage petticoat. They were sooooo beautiful,” says Kandi. In the beginning, she had an exclusive deal with Fred Segal in Santa Monica, California and began to accumulate quite the celeb Mom following.
Dakota Fanning at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards
It was there that little starlet, Dakota Fanning, bought one and wore it to the 2003 Teen Choice Awards. After her photo appeared in People Magazine, Kandi received hundreds of orders from girls across the nation.
As every designer knows, it can sometimes be a struggle. Kandi began having difficulties locating large quantities of vintage petticoats and came up with the idea of a vintage reproduction line. Thus, the pettiskirt trend began. Kandi transformed the old style petticoat into something new and was the very first to call them a “pettiskirt”.
Kandi placed them into the modern world of today in a brand new, magical way! She then had them photographed in styles that would appeal to every little girl so they wouldn’t be viewed for just dress up!
Kaiya Eve, age 4, in 2004
While still transitioning into a single Mom to her precious daughter, Kaiya, Kandi continued to build her business with very scant financial resources. Then one day, out of nowhere, she received an email from an 11 year old little girl named Molly Swindall from Georgia. “Molly really wanted the skirt that Dakota Fanning wore to the Teen Choice Awards, but I wasn’t designing those anymore. I sent her a new fluffy pettiskirt and she fell in love,” says Kandi.
After a year of keeping in contact, Molly called one day and told Kandi that her Father wanted to invest in her business. He called and said, “How much do you need to get your product out there?” He transferred funds into her account the very next day. “He didn’t even know me and he was willing to take a risk,” says Kandi. “These things just don’t happen every day!” Molly has become her little angel and they are partners today.
Today, there are many pettiskirt replicas on the market, however, if it doesn’t say Kaiya Eve, it’s not an Original! Kaiya Eve pettiskirts are the one skirt every little girl should have! She will put it on and won’t want to take it off.
Actress Caitlin Carmichael, Actress Bella Thorne and Model Kaiya Eve (age 9)
Photo by Kelly Scaccia in 2006
Featured in December 2008 Baby Couture Magazine