Husband and father, Chris Kolbe, shares a bit about his family, business, HyperNatural, and more.
Tell us a bit about your family. Where do you live? How many children do you have? And what are their ages?
“The Kolbe family lives in Elm Grove. We moved to Elm Grove in 2017, after we had completed building our modern dream home for our family of 8.
My wife, Isis, and I have 5 kids (4 boys and 1 girl). We also have a mother-in-law who lives with us. We ultimately had to build a home that would suit our family’s needs.
Our kids: Owen, 20, attends the University of Minnesota; Wyatt, 18, a senior at Brookfield East; Beau, 16, a sophomore at Brookfield East; Isa, 15, a freshman at Brookfield East; and Gus, 13, a seventh grader at Pilgrim Park Middle School. All accompanied by Hana, our Shiba Inu dog!”
Can you tell us a bit about your business? Why fashion? And what drove the sustainability mission?
“I spent over 30 years working in the fashion industry at major brands, including Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, Original Penguin, Kohl’s and Lands End. I have always been obsessive about quality of materials and comfort. About 5 years ago, I realized a dirty secret in the apparel industry that no one talks about: Synthetic materials are really just PLASTIC, covered in toxic chemicals that pose real health risks.
When worn close to the body or during exercise, whether it’s hot yoga or 18 holes of golf, this means means the most sensitive parts of your body are covered in plastic and coated in chemicals. The truth is, we are living in the age of chronic disease, and what’s on your body is now in your body. With these products our health is under attack, and no one knows it.
Much like the rise of organic food and clean beauty over the past 30 years, the future of clean apparel is now here: HyperNatural. We’re revolutionizing textiles with certified clean, bio-based materials, harnessing nano-regenerative tech to work with your body. Not just harm-free, our fabrics aim to boost your health, vitality, and longevity. HyperNatural is not intended to be a fashion brand. We go beyond typical performance to what it means to wear wellness for a life of longevity. Turns out, sustainability and your health and wellness are really the same thing.”
If you and your family had an entirely plan-free day (a rarity, we know!), how would you spend it? Which local businesses would you frequent? And why?
“When our family has a free day and the weather is warmer, we love to walk in Elm Grove Park with our dog in the morning. Ideally, we pick up steaks at Kettle Range, veggies from Sendik’s, and grill all afternoon with family and friends. We enjoy playing lots of badminton, corn hole and soccer, and ending our night with s’mores around the fire pit ”
