Wckd Collective are Here for Inclusion and Slow Fashion

In today’s fashion landscape, there is often a focus on fast fashion, buying cheap clothes that match the trends and then throwing the away once they go out of style. And despite the fact that society overall is trying to get more size-inclusive, queer-forward, and less focused on white, patriarchal fashion ideals, folks who fall into marginalized groups still report trouble fining comfortable and sustainable clothing in their size, for their body type, in a style that affirms their gender, and in an aesthetic they like.

Kayte Demont (she/they) wishes to change all that with her fashion-forward, but also queer-run and sustainable, fashion collective, Wckd Collective. As a queer person with a unique aesthetic and a love for thrifting and upcycling, Demont has created a space to buy unique pieces and get sustainable fashion advice, all with personal style and gender identity in mind. We chatted with her more about how the company came to be and what her mission is.

What exactly is the collective, and how did it com about? 

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2019, I kept have this thought of not wanting to let go of my dream of having a physical space, both a retail space and studio, but also a shared community space for events and panels. But I felt that I wasn’t in the right place to make that happened.

Then, the pandemic hit, and we were all locked inside, doing whatever we could to make it work.  I found myself with a little bit of extra free time, so I started painting and really flipping furniture, and then I went back to my roots, fashion styling. I actually started in the social media world as a fashion blogger; that’s what really catapulted my journey, not only as a creative, but also just finding my true self.

It all just stemmed from there—I got really serious a year and a half ago, and now we’ve grown into a full brand. We have a showroom here in Portland, Maine, and it’s like a private shopping experience. We are going to do some networking events this winter and really push the envelope o true community behind the brand and what it means to express yourself authentically.

Tell me a little bit more about the showroom and how that came to be. 

I’m currently living in a single-occupancy family home in Portland, Maine. One of the things I’ve always loved is smaller, more intimate events. Don’t get me wrong; I will be at a festival booty poppin’ with the best of them, but I also think there is a lot of value in sitting down and getting to know somebody beyond surface level. I think it is very important to have a safe space, especially if you’re discovering that you’re trans or toying with the idea of what nonbinary means to you. At the beginning of your journey, I think it can be a little uncomfortable.

I really took this opportunity to turn one of the rooms in the house into a hybrid studio, shop storefront, and I just book appointments for people to come over. They get an hour styling consult from me so I can really help them. It’s like taking retail therapy to the next level, being able to talk through a lot of emotional stuff while you’re trying on clothes, which is kind of an intimate experience. Having a space space like that is not something I ever had, so I wanted to create that.

How do you deal with the challenges of finding size-inclusive clothes, and more androgynous clothes for folks with big hips and chests, that kind of thing? 

I think that kind of evolves every day, and that’s why the community part of this is so important to me. I have to rely on other people in my community who have different experiences in fashion, so I get a full understanding of what my people need and how I can help. It’s super important to me to have that, and I also think my biggest rule of thumb is, I source based on aesthetic. That’s why I use the word “curated.” It’s not just secondhand or upcycled; it’s a combination of all of it because it’s style, and I don’t want that to be hindered.

Style is not a size, and it is not gendered. You can have really epic, creative, sweet, personal style and be wearing something completely different than somebody else who also feels really stylish and cool.

For me, I always try to choose pieces based off of that, and not on their size. I also think it’s a continuous journey, because I don’t have that many plus-sized clients right now, at least in the Portland area. A lot of them are virtual and across the country, which is great. I do a lot of my business online.

But it’s hard, even for folks who can wear quote-unquote “standard sizes;” you just don’t know what clothes are going to look like on you, and you can’t always bring all your sizes to a pop-up. And because people can’t try them on, that can also make it tricky. So I try to really look to the community for guidance on what they want and need, and that shapes what I am looking for when I’m outsourcing or picking up items that I want to style or curate or upcycle. I’m always looking for creative ways to get people clothes in their style.

And when it comes to finding things that look more androgynous, it’s kind of the same formula. I have a lot of friends who are like, I want to look like X, Y, and Z, but take into account my lesbian lens. It’s about teaching people that you have to balance out your proportions, and just because you have a bigger body, doesn’t mean you can’t wear oversized clothes.

I think the same thing goes for body parts, if you’re maybe trying to disguise a part to make you look a little more androgynous or to accentuate different areas or curves. I think it’s all about learning what fabrics do that and what fabrics to stay away from. It’s a a growing project, and that’s the beauty of it, because I feel humans are always evolving.

I love that intentionality behind body’s and identity because a lot of times, bigger people or queer people get called out for shopping fast fashion, but it’s the only thing that affirms us or fits our bodies. How do you make sure you are inclusive, accessible, and also good for the environment? 

I think the biggest thing I’m trying to do right now is education. I’ve always been big on sustainability, but I don’t think that it does any good to be a perfectionist about it. There are so many opportunities for people to just do really little things that add up. Like everyone freaking out a few years ago about reusable straws, saying they’re not going to help. Well, maybe, but not of lot of people are taking that step—That’s better than doing nothing.

I feel the same way about fashion. I recognize that there are socioeconomic barriers, geographic barriers, and a lot of other issues, but I think it’s about shifting the mindset and stepping away from overconsumption, just teaching a more mindful approach, and I think that goes hand in hand with personal style. If you have to buy fast fashion that’s fine. Also, just wear things until they are worn to death, until there are holes in it, and when there are holes in it, cut it up, and use it as a wrap.

What do you all have in the works for the end of this year going into next? What are some of your longer-term goals? 

I actually just launched a line called Wckd Comfy, and in addition to the curated, printed, and more elated statement pieces, I also started curating some more basics like sweatpants, loungewear, basic black tees, things you can really build outfits around, because that’s definitely a lot of what folks wear these days, and it’s a little easier to order things like that online because you’ll have a better idea of how they will fit.

We’re pushing continual drops on the website, and I have a room of inventory that I’ve been curating. Now, I’m finally at the point where I’m ready to put all this stuff out there. I’m doing a ton of styling tips and tricks on Instagram and TikTok. Im always looking for influencers or creators who really vibe with what I’m doing because there is no better way to get the word out about Wckd Collective than having people who appreciate it and can shout it from the rooftops.

Aside from that, I think our biggest goals are just to continue to educate people but also make sure that everyone knows this is truly a brand for everyone. I think there are a lot of queer-centric brands out there that only focus on queer people, and that’s amazing, and there needs to be a place for that. But for me, I also think there’s a really under-supported community of people who are just allies, or maybe there are straight dudes who want to dress a little more flamboyantly and need to be around people who support that. So really, we’re just trying to find ways and special, experiential moments to communicate that message and continue to attract people who are just all-around good humans.

Follow Wckd Collective here.