Reinvention: Cape Town Artist Kyle Lindie on Fashion as a Physical Language

On one rainy day in Newlands Forest Cape Town at the base of Devils Peak Mountain a team of creatives found themselves creating magic among the dripping leaves and cloudy sky. Led by model, artist and visionary Kyle Linde, PatternNation Designers Costa Besta and myself Cydney Eva came together with photographer Allistaire Bart, crown designer Revamp, and make up artist Ambitions, to create this editorial shoot.

After hiking up the mountain till we found the perfect spot we shot two looks: nude with body paint styled with the Revamp crown in the trees and on the rocks in PatternNation’s fringe bib top and pom pom shorts made from pattern fabric sourced in Hawaii and trims. Like all of Kyle's work it was a celebration of life, creativity and nature and I asked him some questions about his artistry, queer identity and fashion. 

“To me an artist is someone who sees the beauty in everything, uncategorized.”

— Kyle Lindie

How do you express yourself as an artist? 

To me an artist is someone who sees the beauty in everything, uncategorized. It’s a way of seeing. My source of expression is limitless. I strongly feel that one's artistry shouldn't be boxed in or limited. To me, real artistry is reinvention.

My “chief” art form is dance but it's not my only form of expression. I also express myself (artistically) through fashion. Fashion does not use words. It is, in a way, “art incarnate.” It is a performance. I don’t use words as a dancer— I use movement and presence and this becomes a physical language. Fashion is physical language.

“Fashion is physical language.”

— Kyle Lindie

What mediums do you work in? 

I work in “performance” art. I am a dancer, model, teacher, and queer activist. To me, each is a form of artistic expression. Even as a teacher, I believe that the dance class is in a perpetual state of “moving”. Nurturing knowledge and even just facilitating such a craft is a delicate practice and I give it all the glorification it deserves. 

How does being a queer person influence the art you make?

Being a queer person definitely gives me the liberation to own my identity. Perhaps, I was forced to own my identity, either way—being queer is imprinted on who I am. I believe in living authentically. The art I create is as authentic as I am.

“There’s no rush in Cape Town— every day is a lived experience.”

— Kyle Lindie

What inspires you about living in Cape Town South Africa?

Cape Town is Home. I am most at ease at home. I think we have a specific rhythm in Cape Town and I feel like I am in tune with it. I understand it. There’s no rush in Cape Town— every day is a lived experience. It’s also a beautiful city (in terms of its people and the physical space) and that seeps into the work.

How does color and pattern affect you creatively? 

I am a deeply spiritual individual so I always consider color and physical shapes. It’s all vibration to me, so I “listen”. I acknowledge what I am attracted to whether it’s nostalgia for the 80s or whether it’s futuristic—I like to consider why I’ve been drawn to a piece of clothing or an artwork. 

Tell me about your relationship with the color purple as it is the main color used in this editorial shoot? 

It’s symbolic. Purple is expressive. It is also regal.

“Fashion is an extension of my soul.”

— Kyle Lindie

How does fashion aid your self-expression?

It’s an opportunity to play, to perform, to express myself. The clothes I wear have become part of who I am. Fashion is an extension of my soul. Fashion is something that I have inherited from my mother. She’s a machinist and an all-round fashion guru. I’ve always been interested in the technicalities of creating garments. I think once you begin to recognize these technicalities your appreciation for it increases. The clothes I wear, because of my exposure to the industry, has become a part of who I am. For as long as I can remember, she has inspired me to create and explore fashion in all its facets. I am still learning and growing as I go. You can wake up and be anything you want through your clothing: Reinvention. 

It has been so inspiring to hear Kyle’s perspective on creativity, expression, fashion and identity through this collaboration and interview. PatternNation is a creative platform and fashion design label dedicated to creating colorful, patterned, inclusive and sustainable content and we specialize in one of a kind ungendered custom garments and creative editorial shoots. It was such a pleasure to have Kyle on board as one of our amazing diverse and creative models and to share our work with the Qwear Fashion community. He brought together such a talented local Cape Town team and is constantly producing stunning editorials and performances. Thank you to everyone involved may we keep reinventing, creating, learning, and growing. 

CREDITS

Expressionist: @iamkylelinde
Photographer: @allistairebart 
MUA: @ambitions_makeup
Assistant: @tanya_anderson24
Designer: @pattern.nation (www.pattern-nation.com)
Purple crown: @revamp_by_xoxoxtine