About Urban Smirk

Urban Smirk was born in 2017 on a kitchen island. Founder Kari VanZante — a former art teacher turned full-time maker — began sketching clever designs during the day and screen-printing tea towels after her three littles were tucked in at night. With a love for bold color, snarky sayings, and vintage flair, her creative hobby quickly grew into a full-blown small business. Today, Kari still hand-designs every single product, from funny tea towels to eco-friendly Swedish dishcloths. Each design begins with a quirky thought and evolves into a bold, eye-catching print that brings personality to every kitchen. Design days are still her favorite part of the process, and it shows in every product. Urban Smirk products blend functionality with humor and great art. Our high-quality kitchen towels and Swedish dishcloths aren’t just pretty — they work hard, drying dishes, wiping spills, and sparking laughter with every use. Customers often say things like, “Urban Smirk just gets me,” or “This is so my sister,” or even “Where have you been all my life?” From small gift shops to major retailers like Nothing Bundt Cakes and The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, Urban Smirk is proud to be found in boutiques and homes across the U.S. Our goal? To keep growing, keep creating, and keep you laughing. Thanks for supporting a woman-owned, artist-designed brand that puts humor and heart into every product. Read their story