Our guest today is the incomparable Kenneth D. King, returning to the Sew & So Podcast after first joining us on Episode 72.Kenneth is a New York–based haute couturier renowned for his mastery of evening wear, couture technique, and design education.
Born and raised in Salinas, Kansas, and later moving to Oklahoma, Kenneth’s path to fashion excellence led him to earn a degree in fashion merchandising from Central State University and to study patternmaking in San Francisco under Paris-trained Simmin Sethna. His extraordinary career includes selling to elite boutiques such as Maxfield, Wilkes Bashford, and Ultimo, designing for icons like Geena Davis, Cloris Leachman, Bernie Taupin, and Elton John, and having his work featured on red carpets, music videos, and television commercials.
Kenneth’s creations now reside in the permanent collections of the De Young Museum, LACMA, The Oakland Museum, and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. In addition to designing, he is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of New York, a Contributing Editor for Threads Magazine, an instructor for Craftsy and Burda, and the author of multiple acclaimed books on couture sewing techniques.
In this episode, Kenneth joins us to discuss his newest book, Doll Couture – The Red-Carpet Edition, his inspirations, collaborations, and what continues to drive his creativity today.
(3:35) Kenneth reminds us how he learned to so and who influenced him.
(4:40) He tells about his grandmother and her influence on him.
(5:20) He talks about why people are forced to create in a certain style and what can be done to more out of this mold.
(7:53) He talks about his new inspirations and gives us a history lesson on new York’s Ladies’ Mile.
(10:26) Learn about Kenneth’s collaborations
(11:40) What was it like for Kenneth to work with his husband Andrew?
(14:23) What’s new with Kenneth?
(16:07) Learn about Kenneth’s new book Doll Couture – The Red-Carpet Edition.
(18:15) How is this new book different from the first one?
(21:00) Learn about the book’s Easter Eggs
(21:15) What Red Carpet moments inspired his character’s designs?
(22:33) Does working on a small-scale change how he thinks about proportions and other considerations?
(24:05) What items from doll sized couture will help those creating full-sized garments?
(25:20) How long did it take Kenneth to complete his book?
(27:06) There was an untraditional path to publishing Kenneth’s books…he shares this with us.
(31:48) What’s it like when he is finally handed his first copy of a new book?
(33:40) Kenneth recounts the story of his relationship with Elton John and the hats he created for him.
(36:00) What’s next for Kenneth?
(37:34) What’s his dream? And, how can you help?!
(38:10)What question didn’t we ask that he wished we had asked?
(38:33) Reach out to Kenneth at KennethDKing@earthlink.com
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