THE STORY OF KILTIZ

Hey Mavericks, I’m Em.

I’m the first of us, the first Maverick.

Before I tell you the story of KILTIZ, I need to tell you mine.

Because KILTIZ was born from my soul, from my fire, the questions, the grief, the search

and maybe, through my story, you’ll find echoes of your own.

Or maybe, it’ll light something in you that you didn’t even know was there.

I grew up in the Caribbean.
A place full of color, rhythm, and warmth.

But like many of us, I was told there’s only one way to "make it" study, follow the rules, don’t stray too far.

So I left my island. Left my family.
And I landed in a foreign land to pursue higher education.
That was the first cultural shock.

The world suddenly felt huge and I felt tiny.

Despite being used to summer travels, I realized I’d only ever stayed within my safe zones.

Now, everything was new. And it was hard.
But I stayed curious. Passionate about photography, hungry to explore. I slowly started discovering my new home… and beyond.

Then came the pandemic.

Everything changed.

I was in my early twenties when I lost my father, suddenly.
The ground beneath me collapsed.
That moment taught me a truth that never left me:

Life isn’t guaranteed. Every day is a gift and it can disappear in a breath.

In the middle of grief, I began questioning everything.
Not just death… but life.

What are we doing with it?
We trade our days for jobs that see us as replaceable.
We abandon the people we love, and the things we live for, in the name of productivity.

I kept studying, but inside… I was empty.

So I started chasing something real.
I traveled sometimes far, sometimes just around the corner.
Every trip became a lifeline.
And soon, a tribe started to form around me — people like me, searching for more.

One day, during lockdown, I found a cheap flight to an arabian country.
I went.
And unlike my first trip there, this one felt different.
I shared food with locals in the souks. Laughed with strangers.

No filters. No tourists. Just connection.

One night, I booked a stay in a desert hotel built like an old Bedouin village.
I tried their rhythm, their silence.

Then, one morning, unable to sleep, I left my friends and walked alone.

I watched the stars fade over the dune. I listened as the desert awoke.

I saw a herd of Arabian gazelles move silently in the light.

And then I heard it the birds singing.

Their song echoing across the stillness of the desert,

like nature whispering:

“You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.”

And for the first time in years,

I felt peace.

Not distraction. Not escape.
Real, soul-level peace.

Something shifted in me.

I wasn’t broken anymore. I was reborn.

That’s the moment I became a Maverick.

And slowly, I realized this wasn’t just my story —
It’s our story.

We’ve all followed the path we were told was right.
We’ve all hidden pieces of ourselves to fit in.

But there comes a time when you have to break free.

That moment is the birth of KILTIZ.

It isn’t just a brand.
It’s a movement. A return to self.
A celebration of culture, symbols, freedom, and exploration.

The name comes from the Creole word "Kilti" that mean culture.

Because that’s what we are: a culture of Mavericks.
Of wanderers, of misfits, of passionate souls who refuse to conform.

Through my travels, I’ve rediscovered ancient symbols, forgotten wisdoms, mysterious truths buried in the dust of pyramids and whispered in bamboo forests.

They inspired the designs.