Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kayte Demont. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kayte, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always been an artist. My mom is an artist and taught art for 25 years and my dad is also very creative and an entrepreneur in his own right. Growing up in such an environment allowed me to be very curious and imaginative which I believe was paramount in building my confidence as an artist. I spent the majority of my life dancing, performing, creating in various mediums and expressing myself through every medium I could fathom. While I continued this through high school and college, I ultimately ended up choosing a liberal arts college in which I majored in English and only minored in Studio Art.

I wish I’d been able to have more foresight and chosen a different educational path. While I don’t regret getting a degree, I graduated in 2012 so it was just as social media and creative careers in the digital world were really coming to the forefront. Often times I joke with my dad that my first entrepreneurial journey of running my own lifestyle and music blog taught me more than any business school could have.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After graduating from Gettysburg College with a degree in English and a concentration in Studio Art, I created the blog Mass Musings (2012-2020) as a central place of inspiration for creative individuals. My focus was on creating quality content and genuine connections with a strong emphasis on lifestyle and music. Through my writing and photography, I was able to connect her audience with some of the most well-respected, international brands and artists.

Now, over 10 years later, I’m working on my second entrepreneurial endeavor as the Founder/Creative Director of WCKD Collective. WCKD Collective is a clothing brand/ art label that encourages individuals to discover themselves through slow fashion and personal style.

“At WCKD Collective, we prioritize slow fashion because we recognize the negative impact that fast fashion has on the environment and the people involved in the production process. By taking the time to design and re-create vintage and preloved pieces that will last for years, we hope to encourage a more sustainable and responsible approach to fashion.

Personal style is also a key aspect of our brand philosophy. We believe that everyone has their own unique style and should be empowered to express themselves through their clothing choices. Rather than following the latest trends, we encourage our customers to invest in pieces that they truly love and will wear for years to come.
Ultimately, our focus on slow fashion and personal style is not just about creating beautiful clothing, but about fostering a deeper connection to ourselves and the impact we have on the world.”

I find the most joy in my work when I’m helping people feel good about themselves and WCKD is the perfect vessel for that.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Creative people need time to work in their own way! I spent the majority of my career feeling less than or bad about myself because my neuro-sicy brain didn’t fit into the societal norms of what it meant to be “professional.” Now, I can happily say that I am much more confident in doing NOTHING at times because I know when inspiration strikes, it will all come out of me like lava.

Of course, there is a lot of work and practice that comes with creating a workflow or routine, but it’s so important to explore what works best for you and to give yourself the space and grace to set yourself up for success instead of stress.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think NFTs are inevitably the way of the future. HOWEVER, I’m not a super early adopter of new technology, mostly because I know my ADHD would pull focus from things I actually need to work on. That being said, as the market becomes more stable and NFTs become a bit more mainstream, I think it will be a really interesting shift in the market and will give artists more power over their careers. I’ll be following along from a distance until I’m ready to make a more informed decision about how it can impact my business positively.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://wckdcollective.com
• Instagram: @wckdcollective
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaytedemont/
• Other: tiktok.com/@wckdcollective

Image Credits
All images taken by Kayte Demont for WCKD.