Cybersocket Exclusive Interview: Kyle Kilgore Talks Fetish Fashion and Building a Black, Queer Fashion Brand

September 22, 2022
JOSHUA ANDREW

It's time to update your sexy gear and Kyle Kilgore's got you (un)covered. Kyle X Kilgore is an independent Black and queer-owned fashion brand specializing in masculine lingerie and leather gear. The sexy Chicago-born and Spain-raised designer won Best Designer of the Bay Award before opening Downtown Tampa's first design studio. Now, exclusively online, Kyle X Kilgore is your place for leather goods, all-gender lingerie, and made-to-measure gowns. Cybersocket caught up with Kyle to discuss his spin on fetish gear, growing up abroad, and losing himself in his brand.

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1. How did growing up abroad shape you as an artist and designer?
Growing up abroad was the beginning of my love for art, specifically the art of fashion. I remember my family would go to this women's basement studio in downtown Portugal for custom caballero suits and flamenco dresses. It was seriously magical seeing all the garments she produced and watching her work.

I think starting from that type of culture and moving to the US, then learning about American pop culture showed me the importance of diverse inspiration. In American pop culture, there are so many cultural, regional, and community-based aesthetics all blended together. Now I try to explore and see as much culture and art as possible so I can blend aspects of everything I learn and experience into my own craft.

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2. What helped inspire your hot new fetish collection?
The new fetish collection is inspired by the circuit scene and post-fetish art. I love the deliciously slutty outfits the circuit bears are known for wearing, but I can't recreate the same bulldog harness and jockstrap we've all seen before. Where's the fun in that? So I started consuming a lot of fetish art from artists like Gengoro Tagame and Zana Bayne.

From there I noticed that leather, bondage, and fetish was just interpreted through those artists' unique eye and perspective. So I decided to do the same, I'm taking all the fetish circuit bears looks I love and reinventing them.

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3. How did you go about putting a unique spin on things like jockstraps and harnesses?
That one was easy. I love hardware and bondage so I took pieces we all know and love (like a jockstrap) and made them more practical. I try to marry fashion and function while adding as much hardware as reasonably possible. Prime example: the sir jock, it's obviously a strap-on harness or cock ring attached to a jock with suspender attachments (fashion+function).

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4. What can you tell us about your upcoming leather collab with Recon?
I can't say much without Recon's approval, but I can say there will be a limited edition Recon piece in this collection as well as spicy campaign photos only available on the Recon app. So download the Recon app for front-row seats to the drop.

Size XL - sold out!
RT for good luck.
Beef cake : @johnnyboydash pic.twitter.com/NeYMGszmdd
— Kyle X Kilgore (@kylexkilgore) August 16, 2022

5. What do you do to refill your well creatively?
Ooh, that's been hard. I've been working on my brand solo non-stop for about 4 years. During that time I was so consumed 24/7, 365, 7 days a week by work. So much so that I lost touch with myself as an individual. I've recently hired staff so I have some of my time back and I'm just now learning how much my brand took from me.

I don't know what I enjoy doing anymore, I don't know what refills my creative well anymore. It sounds sad, but building a brand takes 150% of yourself. I've started doing simple things that I remember I loved like cooking and traveling, but it's still too soon to tell if this Kyle likes what 5-years-ago Kyle liked.

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6. If you could dress any celebrity in your avant garde collection, who would you choose and why?
BABY!!!!! I've got a list!! Poppy, Grimes, Willow Smith, and Violet Chachki just to name a few. I just love weird alien bitches lol.