The Victorian Seaport of Port Townsend is the perfect October destination for Whatcom and Skagit spooky-enthusiasts, and not only because stepping off the ferry and into their waterfront downtown feels a bit like time travel. Amongst the historic brick buildings and eclectic storefronts is a new physical location for KALMA, a dark lifestyle brand with philosophical depths launched in 2019 by artist AJ Hawkins.
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
Hawkins began KALMA during a time of major change. As a young adult, Hawkins had a career as a custom fabricator building high-end props for haunts, sets for television, brand experiences, and a 27-foot-tall unicorn, among other things.
“It was challenging, it was always new, there was a lot of invention. But it was also really hard on my body. I think my hardest week, I worked 110 hours. And at that time, my connective tissue disorder was starting to manifest more,” says Hawkins. “I realized I just couldn’t do it anymore, and I had to switch careers. That was really hard, because I loved that job.”
In addition, Hawkins had been working to process her mortality aversion through a multi-year fine art project, “The Reclamation.” Through her research, she connected with the death positivity movement, finding community and a niche market. Her “It’s Okay to Decay” design, which was created and sold partially to fund “The Reclamation,” took off on social media.
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
Some people feel that death positivity sounds morbid at first blush, but it’s not necessarily about feeling positive towards death and dying. Hawkins explains:
“Death positivity is simply the idea that death is a normal and natural part of life, and that it shouldn’t be stigmatized to work with, be curious about, or engage with mortality. To be ‘death positive’ is to believe that we aren’t served by a culture that expects us to lock death and grief away behind closed doors.”
The need for a career change, the meaning found in death positivity, and the demand for her designs crystalized into KALMA. It wasn’t easy—Hawkins put their “stubbornness-first crafting approach” into building the business online from the ground up. Hawkins sells her own art and designs, plus vintage, secondhand, and handmade goods from women- and minority-owned businesses. Many of their products “respectfully engage with mortality and grief.”
After outgrowing their home workspace, KALMA’s brick-and-mortar opened in March 2024, drawing visitors with its gothic goods and dark vibes. Clothing is separated into archetypes like Vampire or Faerie, from which Hawkins curates weekly collections. Lunar Tides hair dye and Sinister Love Cosmetics are available to help you feel authentically yourself inside and out. There’s jewelry, candles, journals and books, stationary, art and stickers, self-care products, and so much more. There’s also a crafting candy bar full of bits and bobs like spikes, safety pins, and small patches for clothing customization, and a community Grief Altar at the front of the store.
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
KALMA’s physical location brought The Parlor with it, a community centric concept that also acts as an inclusive third space. The Parlor is a spacious area at the back of KALMA with cushy chairs and sofas, a resource library, a bulletin board, a crafting corner, and a publicly-accessible restroom. It’s always open when the store is, and folks are welcome to come and hang out during the day.
The Parlor hosts speakers and events like alternative craft nights, Mourning Coffee (a monthly grief centered gathering), and Disability Dialogue and Death Dialogue (gently facilitated discussion groups). Hawkins and Community Programming Directer Jen Hauser crafts their Gatherings, Resources, and Rituals around the themes of Death & Dying, Grief, Disability, and Alternative Culture. KALMA is eager to expand their programming and offerings, which can be followed on their website or at The Parlor’s instagram, @entertheparlor.
“KALMA’s always been this place where creativity and expression has collided with education and advocacy work,” says Hawkins. “It’s totally okay and expected that people would feel uncomfortable or not understand what we’re doing, because it is kind of a new weird thing. … And then on the other end … I’ve had multiple people come in and say something like, ‘I think I’ve been waiting for a space like this my whole life.’” 926 Water St., Port Townsend, shopkalma.com
