Kal Di Paola, Founder
I’ve always been an entrepreneur — but more than that, I’ve always been drawn to building things that bring people together.
I started my first business in my twenties, launching the fashion label Kal Kaur Rai with no formal training — just instinct, curiosity and a willingness to learn by doing (and failing).
What began in a studio flat grew into a global brand, stocked in over 120 boutiques worldwide, with a showroom in London’s West End and international agents. The label was worn by names including Victoria Beckham, Beyoncé and Alesha Dixon.
When the 2008 recession forced me to close the business, it marked a turning point — and the beginning of something new.
Around that time, I had started hosting second-hand designer fashion events — encouraging people to rethink the value of what they already owned.
What began as small, community-led events quickly grew, leading to the launch of BuyMyWardrobe in 2012 — an online marketplace for pre-loved fashion. Over the next six years, I raised £1M in investment and built the business through the highs and challenges of startup life, before exiting in 2018.
Looking back, this was where my interest in reuse, community and behaviour change really began.
Since then, my focus has evolved.
I’ve moved away from building businesses in the traditional sense, and towards building connection — creating projects, spaces and communities that bring people together in real life.Through initiatives like Re’Store, and spaces like By Max, my work explores how we connect, how we create, and how we rethink what we already have.
Through Knnected, I now work across both consultancy and community-led projects — partnering with brands, councils and local organisations to create more meaningful, human-centred experiences.
Alongside this, many public-facing initiatives are delivered through my community interest company, W3 Hive CIC, allowing me to focus on accessibility, inclusion and long-term social impact.
My work is driven by a simple belief: people don’t just want to buy things or attend events — they want to feel part of something. And increasingly, the future isn’t just about creating more —it’s about making better use of what we already have.
Whether I’m working with a business, building a community initiative, or creating a new space, the goal is always the same:to bring people together and build things that people genuinely want to be part of.
What They Say
"A phenomenally talented entrepreneur and professional".
Remi Olajoyegbe
iamremi.co.uk
"She has a clear ability to use her past experiences to know what can make or break any new venture. It is always a delight to brainstorm with Kal".
Mimma Viglezio
mimmaviglezio.com
“I’ve worked alongside Kal in various projects, and I am constantly in awe of her tireless resilience, endless ideas, her drive and her foresight. She is my motivational powerhouse!”
Jennifer De Gray Birch
Edit By Jen
“Amongst the many community-led projects I’ve worked with, this Acton Unframed crowdfunding campaign is one of the best examples, as to how a group can successfully mobilise widespread community support for an idea that can potentially change their neighbourhood for the better”.
Kofi Nyamah
Ealing Council