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

Kelly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up in a small town in Western Massachusetts called Monson, where thrift shopping wasn’t a trendy pastime for me—it was a necessity. There was a little shop inside a church next to our house called The Church Mouse, and when I was around 10 years old, my mom would give me a couple dollars to pick out school clothes. I LIVED for digging through those bins, searching for the coolest, most unique pieces.

At the same time, my mom ran a craft store out of our house, and I watched her turn yard sale finds into something completely new—like turning old silverware into wind chimes. She was resourceful with what she had, and that mindset stuck with me. But when I proudly wore my thrifted finds to school, it was a different story. Since it was such a small town, kids would recognize their old clothes on me—and the teasing hit hard.

With no other options, I decided to take matters into my own hands, literally. I started cutting up my thrifted clothing, mixing and matching fabrics, and creating something unrecognizable. My plan worked. The bullying stopped, and more importantly, I realized I had the power to change my situation. That’s where the spark really started for me.

Looking back, I see how much that moment shaped me—not just as a designer, but as someone who believes in turning challenges into opportunities. I truly believe our hardships can be our superpowers if we harness them the right way. Now, through my work and online courses, I hope to inspire others to do the same—to create, to reinvent, and to realize they have the power to transform their own story.

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

My name is Kelly Dempsey, a fashion designer, upcycler, and content creator with a passion for secondhand fashion and sustainability. Many people first got to know me as the runner-up on Season 14 of Project Runway, but my journey started way before that—self-taught, reworking thrifted pieces into something fresh, and never wanting to follow the “rules” of the industry. Over the years, I’ve realized how wasteful the fashion world is, with fast fashion pushing overconsumption and convincing people that something worn once or twice is already ‘old.’ But the truth is, fashion doesn’t have to come at the cost of the planet.

Fast fashion is responsible for one-third of all microplastics in the ocean, and even when we think we’re doing good by donating, over 85% of thrifted items actually end up in landfills or incinerators. That’s why my work is all about showing people that we already have more than enough clothing in existence—we just need to get creative with it. Through upcycling, mending, and thrifting, we can rethink fashion entirely and make conscious choices that don’t fuel the waste cycle.

I currently design and auction my upcycled creations, curate unique thrift finds, and create content that inspires people to shop secondhand, rework what’s in their closets, and learn how to sew and mend. I also offer a few online sewing classes, including a beginner course, to help people build the skills to extend the life of their clothing. Fashion can still be exciting and expressive without the throwaway culture we’ve been conditioned to accept, I think its important to take action on how to make more intentional and creative choices.

I’m most proud of the community I’ve built through sharing my art—people who strive to value creativity, sustainability, and making more intentional fashion choices. I want my work to inspire others to rethink their relationship with clothing, to see the potential in what already exists, and to make fashion choices that align with a better future for the planet.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the freedom to bring ideas to life every day—even though it’s not always easy in this world. I’m incredibly grateful for my audience, who allows me to follow my creativity, and I hope to inspire others to do the same.

I truly believe that the easier path is often not the most fulfilling. When we listen to those intuitive nudges, even in small ways, we begin walking a path that only our soul knows the way to. It’s like co-conspiring with the universe—things start aligning to support that creative expression. Society doesn’t always make it easy to carve out a life in the arts, but trusting the process—both the doors that open and the ones that don’t—is right on schedule after you make that decision.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn is that I need to be everyone’s cup of tea—that everyone has to love what I do. That couldn’t be further from the truth. When you try to please everyone, you end up watering down your creative expression and losing sight of your vision. It’s impossible to appeal to everyone when we all see the world so differently.

The real magic happens when you fully lock into who you are and stay true to it. Your people—the ones who truly resonate with your work—will find you. Consistency and authenticity are everything. At the end of the day, having a highly engaged, tight-knit community is far more powerful than trying to be universally liked.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.salvagedaura.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kellydempsey_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellydempseydesigner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rackaddik/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KellyfromtheDeli-Designer
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_kellydempsey_