Kyle Hockaday | “I have some pretty big cohones!”

It’s that time again!  It’s another great “Women at Work” feature!

Meet Kyle Hashana, perhaps recognizable to some of you as @KyleHashana.  I’m always all types of fascinated with the gorgeous pics and behind the fashion scenes experiences Kyle shares via Tumblr and Twitter.  Luckily, we found some time to catch up!

1. What is your dream job?

Simply put, to insure my own happiness! That may sound a bit contrived or cheesy even, but really… what’s the point in doing anything, when you’re not really pleased with yourself!? That’s my primary goal!

Before I start getting all philosophical… ultimately, I want to have my own creative consultancy/production agency… think Jenne Lombardo + her company The Terminal Presents… she’s a great example of what I’d like to achieve! Essentially, I want to bridge gaps, in fashion, music, the arts, etc. and build innovative branding concepts.

2.What industry is most of your work concentrated in?

I guess I fall under the Arts & Entertainment umbrella. I mean, “Fashion” just sounds so boring… at least, to me anyways! Hence why I’m so interested in bridging the gaps through consultancy & innovation.

3. Got a side hustle?  How does it affect your daily schedule?

Freelance styling & art direction, amongst other things. It’s a great way to build up residual $$$, while making great contacts. This industry is not for lack luster individuals. You have to get up, get out, and make your presence felt!

I work for the Albright Fashion Library & Mina Gallery. That takes up the majority of my time, but being surrounded by high-end designer garb & amazing art has it perks. I never have to go too far for a great pull or inspiration! Guess that means I’m “killing two birds with one stone.”

Nothing really affects my daily schedule, when it comes to work. I always find some odd way to fit it all in. I even found a way to squeeze in hostessing at Miss Lily’s during it’s opening months. That’s probably because work was the only thing I actually took time schedule. I’m getting better at it now, took a few things off my plate. I feel like leisure should never really be planned, I’m always spontaneous on that front. Sometimes, I even squeeze it betwixt gigs.

4. Discuss your path to where you are now in your career?  Has it been planned?  Were there unexpected turns?

How’s starting out as a Bio/Pre-Med major for an unexpected turn!? I was so steadfast on a pursuing a career in Dermatology, I thought nothing could deter me… but, that was quickly proven wrong by my instinctual creative urges!

I started college early, a month after prep school graduation to be exact. I’m still not sure what I was thinking, but almost immediately, I started feeling overwhelmed, and my creative outlets began to overrule my books. A few in-school fashion shows later…

…and FFWD to me transferring to an art school in Philadelphia, majoring in Fashion Marketing, and spending a summer in Italy studying Art History. I interned for 215Magazine, under Catzie Vilayphonh, then graduated & upgraded to Fashion Assistant. I loved Philly, but since I wanted to make a career of this, naturally, the next move was New York.

I took a leap of faith, moved to Brooklyn with my boyfriend, and immediately locked down an internship at Archetype Gallery/Showroom. Honestly, it sucked being downgraded to intern again, but that’s NYC for you! You’ve got to pay your dues here! That gig provided me with great opportunities, like hosting huge events during fashion week for MAC & Milk, and building relationships with several reputable stylists & media outlets. From there, I interned under the incomparable Patti Wilson. Being backstage at innumerable shows, assisting on major editorials for iD, Vogue Nippon, Numero, etc… I don’t think I can ever emphasize how monumental that was for me! Google her… you’ll understand!

Within a year’s time, I was finally making my presence felt. Several insiders began to recognize my face, and a few people actually remembered my name. Then I came to Albright. I started here as an intern too, but that didn’t last long. After a couple of weeks, I was already being asked to run the Mina Gallery and getting sent out on assistant stylist jobs with industry pros like Jenny Capitain.

5. What have you discovered about yourself along the journey?

My persistence! I knew it was there all along, in some mild comparison to what it is now, but these last two years have really shown me, I have some pretty big cohones! I rarely take “No” for an answer!

6. If you knew in the beginning what you know now, would you have done anything differently?

Pardon my tongue, but Hindsight is the rudest bitch I know [she deserves a capital H]!!! I learned from my parents to take every lesson and use it to prepare for the next task at hand. So ultimately, no, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I just do it better the next time around!

7. Describe a day in your life.

No one day is like the other. I appreciate that… for the most part, my mornings start with the J train into Manhattan. From there, I’m either in the showroom pulling samples for celebs & their stylists, in the gallery curating shows & selling our showroom edits at 70-90% off, collaborating my next moves with awesome friends, or styling a shoot somewhere.

Some days, I do absolutely nothing. I’m beginning to like those days.

8. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? 10 years?

happy… [my favorite answer]

 

Gosh … i’m gonna have to sit with this and be quite envious for a while.  I <3 everything about it!  I ADORE passion.  Can’t live without it!  But I like giant girl ballsiness even more!

no more ranting.  you stay cool.  i’ll stay kholi. <3

Tags: arts, entertainment, fashion, kyle hockaday, mina, women at work