KELLY TATYANA MEILING

In this interview, we delve into the world of Kelly Tatyana Meiling, who share her inspirations and unique perspectives.

Kelly Tatyana Meiling

1. Introduce Yourself to the Casawi Community: What drives you? What's your artistic vision, and what sets you apart from the crowd?

Hi! My name is Kelly Tatyana Meiling. I’m a Dutch -American -Kazakh fashion designer and photographer. A year ago I started my own (knitwear) brand “Kelly Meiling”. All garments are made from deadstock or upcycled materials. All garments are produced at home by myself, and are made to order to minimise waste and prevent overproduction. This way I’m able to ensure one-of-a-kind items that fit perfectly on each bodyshape. Sustainability is a big priority for me. The past year I’ve focused mainly on delicate patterns and textures, combining colors inspired by my travels. During my travels I collect pieces from all over the world which I later combine into new ones. This way all my pieces are a unique combination that can’t be found anywhere else. My goal is to contribute positively to the world by giving people the freedom and joy to express themselves however they like. I feel very honoured when people are drawn towards my pieces and choose to express themselves in them. Feeling good in clothes gives me little moments of joy and I hope to make that feeling accessible to more people.

2. City Inspirations: How has your city influenced your artistic path? Share how its streets, culture, and energy have molded your work.

This is a hard question for me because I’m not sure what ‘my city’ is. I’ve always felt this way and the city I grew up in I always felt like I never really fit in. However I’ve learned to embrace this feeling and to see it as a privilege. I take it as an inspiration and it’s a visible common thread in my work. I was born in one country, grew up in another, frequently visited family in yet another and have lived short term in multiple other countries. For me ‘my city’ isn’t an actual location but a mindset where you feel good. It’s strange but so beautiful how you can feel at peace in the most unexpected places. And it can be influenced by anything.

3. Creative Process: What fuels your creativity? Whether it's a ritual, a muse, or a moment of clarity, we're keen to learn.

What fuels my creativity might be a vague description for some but I think a lot of artists can resonate when I say that there’s a certain indescribable drive from within which pushes you to create in whichever form that may be. Not exactly sure where it came from for me specifically because nobody in my family is in the creative industry nor are any of my friends I grew up with, so my creative interests came from within. It’s a voice inside you that makes you see the world in a different light. That being said the world is my inspiration. Hence why I try to travel as much as possible, because anything I see can start a new dialogue with myself and others. The only time my creativity isn’t fuelled is when I stay in one place for too long.

4. City Lifestyle and Art: How the places you lived influenced your career and work?

I grew up in a small town where there is no fashion scene at all. Even in my grocery store outfits people turn their heads and give me strange looks lol. So being able to live in other cities like New York and London that do have a big creative industry has helped me a lot. I hate to say it but sometimes you really just need to be at the right place at the right time and that’s a lot easier when you’re in a place that already has a big creative industry. Having the privilege of being able to move around and travel easily made me meet new people and friends that give me new insights and advice. Every place does things differently and I think everybody benefits from seeing new things. Like I previously said; it’s my biggest inspiration.

5. Latest or Upcoming Projects: Give us a glimpse into your current endeavors and what lies ahead on your creative journey.

For the new collection this summer I am exploring jewellery design within knitting. I’ve sourced vintage and second hand beads from all over the world to give them another life. I’ve never designed jewellery before so it’s been very exciting discovering this process. As well as that the collection will be available to view and purchase in real life in Amsterdam for the first time ever this month. I set the goal at the beginning 2024 to have my first pop-up this year, and I am very pleased to have gotten the opportunity already and hope to be able to do more in other places. After that I will be starting my graduation year in August at ArtEZ University of the Arts Fashion Design BA. The graduation year will be a continuation of what I’ve been working on for my own brand but will expand way further beyond knitting and will have references to previous work from the past years.