We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kellie Swanson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kellie below.

Kellie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I always knew I would work a creative job however I never thought I’d run my own business. I’ve been creative since I was a kid and through college, it was my dream to make photography and art my full-time job but after graduation, I didn’t really know how to make it happen. My clothing brand was my side hustle during covid until I realized I could make a full-time living wage doing it. Starting a business ended up coming naturally to me, as it’s a nice blend of all of my skills.

Kellie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kellie Swanson and I’m the artist, designer & CEO (chief everything officer) of KSX ART. I create unique, one-of-a-kind, upcycled clothing from Bozeman Montana, using a sun printing photography process called cyanotype. It is a 19th-century alternative photography printing process. When the cyanotype solution is exposed to UV light it turns a deep shade of blue. I paint the solution onto the fabric, then press botanicals and flowers on the garment and expose it to the sun to create my one-of-a-kind pieces. I never meant to start a business if I’m being honest. During COVID I lost both of my jobs and had too much time on my hands so I decided to start making prints again. I took off quickly on social media once I started printing on clothing. The rest, as they say, is history.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Connecting with the community hands down is the more rewarding part of being an artist. I have met so many people, online and in real life, that I would have never met without my job. Creativity thrives in a supportive environment and having such a supportive network of like-minded individuals has helped me get to where I am today.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission with KSX is to promote sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry by upcycling clothing and making already great clothing even better! I believe that by creating new garments from existing materials, I can minimize waste and extend the life cycle of clothing. My goal is to inspire individuals to make conscious choices when it comes to their clothing purchases and to create a culture of sustainability in the fashion industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: ksxart.com
• Instagram: @ksx_art

Image Credits
Devin Helen Boudior Soul Collaborative