Meet Kaylei Hall

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kaylei Hall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaylei , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I remember watching my peers pick their college majors most gravitated toward medicine or law. It seemed like everyone around me, family included, rushed into the medical field. At first, I wanted to be a Registered Nurse, but the more I saw people pursuing medicine. Some even cutting corners to get there, the more I questioned my own path. Was this truly my passion, or just a mold I was trying to squeeze into? The harder I forced it, the louder my gut screamed: “This isn’t you.”

The truth? I’ve never been someone who simply blends into the crowd STAND IN IT. While others found comfort in predictable career paths, I thrived in the “what if spaces?”. Still, I struggled with doubts about not going to college right away.”Am I wasting time pretending to be someone I’m not? “Eventually, I realized taking a break wasn’t a setback it was a chance to redefine my path.
How I Overcame It:
Turned Insecurity Into Inspiration
When imposter syndrome whispered, “You’re not a real designer without a degree,” I reminded myself: Virgil Abloh started in architecture. My unconventional background wasn’t a weakness , it was my edge.

* Owned My Journey
I stopped comparing my chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20. Being self-taught wasn’t a limitation; it meant my creativity was free from boundaries.
* Leaned on Community
I surrounded myself with mentors who reminded me: “If you’re invited to the table, it’s because you earned the seat.”
* Redefined Success
Instead of waiting to feel confident, I embraced the mantra: “Do it scared.” Every small win—a sold-out collection, a feature in VoyageLA etc became proof that I was on the right path.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a multidisciplinary artist and fashion designer who creates wearable rebellion—pieces that challenge norms, celebrate LA’’s unique diverse culture, & turn streets into runways. My work lives at the intersection of art and activism, where every stitch tells a story and boldness is non-negotiable. LA Kulture Klothing isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the disruptors, the “only ones in the room,” and people who wear their stories like armor. Fusing Streetwear while embedding cultural motifs to make statements about IDENTITY.
What’s Lighting me up right now is my new Juneteenth collection. This latest drop is more than a collection drop; it’s a visual anthem. Drawing from African textile traditions, archival protest imagery, and the unshakable joy of Black liberation, each piece is a conversation starter. Statement Streetwear that turn wearers into walking art exhibits. This collection doesn’t just commemorate freedom it ACTIVATES it. This Collection is special to me because I designed it to be a bridge between history and now.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, these three qualities have been my anchors the ones that turned obstacles into opportunities and ideas into impact:
1. Unshakable Authenticity
Why It Mattered: Early on, I tried to shrink my Blackness, my femininity, and my unconventional ideas to fit industry molds until I realized my “difference” was my power. The moment I leaned into my unique perspective like blending historical cultural textiles with streetwear, my work started resonating deeply.
Advice for Others:
-“Study the greats, then forget them.” Learn from mentors, but filter everything through your own lens.
– When doubt creeps in, ask: “Am I doing this because I want to, or because I think I should?”
2. Relentless Resourcefulness
Why It Mattered: As a self-taught designer with no formal training or trust fund, I turned constraints into creativity: thrift-store fabrics became high-fashion statement pieces; Instagram became my runway; community became my classroom.
Advice for Others:
– “Start where you are.” No budget? Barter skills. No connections? DM that artist you admire I’ve landed collabs this way.
– Document your process, your scrappy “how I made this” stories will inspire others and attract opportunities.
3. Radical Resilience
Why It Mattered: Rejection is part of the game. I’ve had collections ignored, grant applications denied, and heard “Black designers don’t sell” from buyers. But every “no” taught me to pivot, like launching direct-to-consumer when stores said no—which ultimately built my most loyal audience.
Advice for Others:
-“Fall in love with the problem-solving, not just the outcome.” Treat setbacks as puzzles.
– Keep a “win folder” (screenshots of nice DMs, sold-out items) to revisit on hard days.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When the weight of creative deadlines, business logistics, and existing while Black in white-dominated spaces hits at once, I’ve learned to treat overwhelm like a check-engine light, it’s a signal, not a shutdown. Here’s my toolkit:
Spiritual Grounding (Crystals + Meditation)
– Crystal First Aid: I keep a black tourmaline in my pocket for stress it’s like a spiritual mute button for negativity and place rose quartz on my desk when I need self-compassion.
– 5 Minute Meditation Hack: Instead of forcing stillness, I’ll light a palo santo stick and stare at my favorite artwork or a Juneteenth collection piece while repeating: “I am exactly where I need to be.”Movement counts too, stretching while deep breathing resets my nervous system.
The “Brain Dump” Method
Overwhelm often means too many ideas or tasks jammed in my head. I:
– Write it all down: every task, fear, or half-baked idea—on paper (no judgment).
– Circle the 3 things that would make today feel like a win**. The rest can wait.
– Tear up the list (cathartic) or save it for my therapist (real talk).
Creative Play as Therapy
When work feels heavy, I return to why I started:
– Doodle freely (no end goal, just markers and joy).
– Rearrange my studio—sometimes physically shifting space shakes loose mental blocks.
– Text my artist group chat with a meme or voice note rant. Laughter > cortisol.
Advice for Others:
– Overwhelm isn’t failure it’s data. Ask: “What’s really draining me? Is it the work, or the stories I’m telling myself about it?”
– Match your coping tools to your personality. If meditation feels like torture, try dancing it out or a rage walk (my personal fave).
– Protect your energy like its currency because it is. Say no to what doesn’t align, even if it’s “opportunities.”
My Go-To Mantras:
– “I don’t have to solve everything today.”
– “My ancestors survived so can I”

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