Meet Kyle Denman | Fashion Designer & Executive Director of Arts-Based Social Impact Organization

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle Denman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, is there something you believe many others might not?
Growing up, a lot of people have told me not to be so sensitive. I have been criticized for being “too emotional.” However, I believe sensitivity is crucial to being an artist! It drives empathy, creates connection, and allows for artists to fully invest themselves in their craft.  In fact, I have even created a runway collection inspired by the sensitivity of people. The collection was called “If I Had a Flower” and was inspired by a flower surviving in a world not designed for it to survive and could be seen as something that remains soft in a hardened world. I think this represents the human experience, too.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My mission is to ignite a culture of change through creativity and curiosity.

I believe that fashion is the most powerful art that exists–it is the intersection of design, movement and architecture juxtaposed in social, political, and cultural contexts. Fashion is expression, communication, and activism. It is inherently political yet neutral, communal yet personalized, and silent yet loud. That’s what I love about fashion; it is paradoxical and so nuanced, just like the human experience.

I am inspired by peoples’ stories. I do my best to relate my runway collections’ themes to the audience. Even if someone does not necessarily directly relate to the collection, I hope that they can connect emotionally with it. I am always motivated by hearing different people’s interpretations of my work, too. I think having discourse and conversation allows my work to evolve in ways that I could never imagine.

Additionally, as the Executive Director of Arts Bridging the Gap, I lead a small social impact organization that brings the arts to young people from historically underserved communities of color all across Los Angeles County. By providing opportunities to established and emerging artists, Arts Bridging the Gap fuels the creative economy while also providing access to multiple disciplines of the arts for youth on a regular basis. As of 2023, we have also painted over 80 murals that are co-created by our talented artists and the youth with whom they are working. Through both social impact and design, I attempt to create social change, share cultural narratives, and humanize the relationships that people have with the arts and each other.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love walking around the city and viewing it from different perspectives and angles while also checking out the street art. I also love going on hikes and going to the beach and have a few favorite spots away from the city at which I can surround myself with nature. I am also a huge fan of the art scene in LA and can be found spending time at some of the many art museums around the city. In terms of food, LA has some of the best and most diverse food options I have ever seen! I like to try a lot of the local restaurants, with Cafe Angelino and Gardunos Sports Bar & Grill being some of my favorites! I also love going to some of the many rooftop bars in LA and watching the sunset. As the Executive Director of Arts Bridging the Gap, I also love to check out the murals my team has painted! We have painted over 80 murals in Los Angeles County; one of which was on an airplane at the Van Nuys Airport! I am really inspired by this city and try to find inspiration everywhere.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I would love to recognize a few people who have been instrumental in my growth and in my story, including Bryan “Bryguy,” who I will forever call one of my soulmates and who has always been a huge inspiration to me, and Leo, who has shown me how deeply someone can care for another person’s art. I also want to highlight my creative thought partners, Emma Roberts of Desert Daisy Jewelry and Mercedes Brunelli—two extremely talented artists I met when I showcased my first collection at New York Fashion Week in 2021.

I also want to shoutout all of my extremely talented artists who work for Arts Bridging the Gap, the social impact organization of which I am Executive Director. They continue to inspire me with their innovation, artistry, and kindness.

I am extremely grateful for all of the people in my life who have supported me along my journey.

Website: www.kyledenmanfashion.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thekyledenman

Linkedin: instagram.com/in/kyledenman

Other: www.artsbridgingthegap.org

Image Credits
Ilya Savenok, Nick Alvarez, Ted Hayash