Meet Kevin Bouknight | Creative & Fashion Curator

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

Hi Kevin, how do you think about risk?
I believe taking a risk is exposure to something uncommon or uncomfortable. It can be an action or motive that pushes one out of his or her comfort zone. Since the initial thought process of my brand or what I wanted to do in my career, every thought and choice has been a risk for me. Although everyone in college thought I was a fashion major or designer, I never believed I had the ability to thrive or be successful in the fashion industry. The summer before leaving for college I became intrigued with wearing bowties. I self-taught myself how to make one, and from there a small business began to bloom. Over time I became complacent and wasn’t doing much with the bowtie business. After a period of time of settling and doing what I believed my family wanted me to do (school, becoming a medical doctor, etc), I had to press pause and ask, “am I living for myself or existing for others?” At that moment, which was 2018, I shifted the way I made choices for myself. I knew that if I wanted to see myself be successful I first needed to invest in myself – take a risk. I started cultivating different concepts and reaching out to nearby friends to ask them if I could use them as muses for these crazy ideas I had in mind. Subsequently, the more I began doing things out of what was my comfort zone everything started to align for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My mums told me when I was a baby, as my parents would dress me for church I always had to look a particular way. This was before I could even talk. There was one time she told me that they decided to dress me in some khaki pants and a regular polo shirt of some sort. Not long after they could button my shirt I started kicking and crying profusely – all because I wanted to wear a suit, shirt, and tie! To this day I know what I want. My brand started as a bowtie business where I would design ties for myself, eventually for friends, groups, and clubs in college. Patrons at my home church were a huge part of my business as well. I gained great success and attraction on campus and eventually sold ties in a small campus store (The Vault) and was recognized in the schools’ newspaper, The Kent Stater. However, I became complacent in focusing on school, going to graduate school, and eventually teaching. Well, I did that up until the point I met the Principal at one of the previous schools I used to work. She told me, “Kevin this isn’t your calling.” And without a doubt, I knew exactly what she meant. You ask was this journey easy? No.

As a creative who did not go the traditional route of going to school for fashion, I had to go into some dark places to truly believe and see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I doubted myself all the time not believing I was simply “good enough”. COVID-19 came, and for me, that was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to focus on what I wanted my brand to represent. I then began to backward map where I ultimately want to see my brand/business – that is a household label. I reached out to my close friend/frat brother and started curating different projects just for the fun of it. We started with a shoot for one of my mentor’s graduation and from there it’s like we could not stop. COVID-19 continued to pass by and I was eventually offered an opportunity to move to Los Angeles. Now there’s a funny story to this but the short one is that I applied to this job in May 2020. The job emailed me right back and notified me that it was given to someone internally. Fast forward they reached back out in October, I interviewed and was hired by November. Moved to Los Angeles in December 2020, and have been in California for a little over a year now. Talk about a divine plan that is only designed for you, if you only just believe and take that risk. That is the brainchild behind the brand Clothed Minded Lou. What I am most proud of is that I was able to release this year a 2022 Fashion Calendar, which is a collection of various projects I styled and curated from 2019-to 2021.

What sets me apart from others is that there is only one me. I create to propel individuals to think about and exude their internal identity, beyond what their society may deem normal. And, to not only be more than just themselves but a representation of why they are living. When I am tasked to style a look or concept or curate a photoshoot I think beyond myself. My goal is to bring to life whatever goal or look my clients have in mind. To do this I live by the quote, “The world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only a page.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok, wow. So I’ve only been in L.A. for a little over a year and I moved during the pandemic. Having a full week of fun plans I don’t think I’ve mastered, but if I had to it would probably go a little like this:

My friend is probably going to arrive on Thursday morning (maybe Wednesday night), so after leaving LAX we’re more than likely going to grab brunch from either Eggslut, The Breakfast Club, or Bolt. Thursday might also be a beach day, so we’d go to Venice beach and rent bikes. Ride down to the Santa Monica Pier and check out the views. Later go out to a happy hour. Happy hour would probably happen at BlaqHaus in Noho, The District LA, or Kalaveras Mexican Bar (Bomb Tequila).

Friday is sightseeing and shopping down at Santee Alley, Beverly Hills Connection, or going to Westfield Century City. Burbank Town Center also has nice views. On Friday we have to experience the nightlife, so there are hookah bars like Byblos or Hollywood Hookah Lounge. Bacari GDL also has a 90-min happy hour. For clubs/lounges, I’m going to Eventbrite (lol). West Hollywood is also a nice area to have fun. Saturday we have to do brunch. Some places are The Highlight Room, Catch LA, and The Griddle Cafe. Sunday is very similar where I may go to Fixins Restaurant in DTLA and then hit up some museums or go to The Row DTLA.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday would vary. There are places to go for karaoke or R&B night such as The Continental or BlaqHaus. And outside of activities like previously mentioned, we could also walk the Culver City stairs or hike Runyon Canyon. There is also Go Kart World and Universal Studios. However, one of my favorite past times is to find hidden locations/gems or walk down long neighborhood strips (York Blvd, Sunset Blvd, Virgil Ave) and explore what all is surrounding me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ll always give honor to the Creator, God who has chosen me to be a vessel in this world. And outside of my mums who brought me into this world, there are two individuals to whom I owe specific recognition. They are my sister and one of my closes friends and fraternity brothers – my sands, Kendall. Kendall is always reminding me of the great potential I have, even when I am doubting myself. He has been a selfless human being who has invested countless time and energy in professing how far I can go. My sister has been just the same. She doesn’t always understand my concepts but she always believes in my work. I always say you need people in your corner who overlook your broken fence and admire the flowers in your garden. Lastly, thank you to Luis Edson who recommended me – another admirable artist!

Website: https://www.clothedmindedlou.com/

Instagram: @clothedmindedlou