Conversations with Kelsey Kay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Kay.

Hi Kelsey , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into fashion began with some of my earliest memories, watching my mother make Halloween costumes for me and my siblings. Sewing and garment construction came very naturally to me, and I eventually became a third generation seamstress. From a young age, I knew this is what I wanted to pursue.
One of my biggest dreams growing up was to move to California, and I eventually had the opportunity to attend college at one of the top design schools on the west coast, FIDM, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. I got to study Fashion Design in San Francisco and was selected to be a part of the Advanced Debut Program with a focus on Theatre Costume Design in Downtown Los Angeles.
My love for California, the beach, and fashion eventually led me to create my own brand, Sunlight Lover. I design and hand make colorful, comfortable, and creative bohemian inspired resort wear, with all my pieces made in the USA. The brand was inspired by my own experiences spending days at the beach, falling in love under the sun, and feeling carefree running around in a swimsuit. I wanted to create clothing that gives other people that same feeling.
More recently, I decided to bring my love of Halloween and costume design back into the brand by creating my Halloweeni Bikini collection. It combines swimwear with playful, imaginative costume design and gives me a way to keep that creativity flowing throughout the entire year.
For me, fashion has always been about more than just making clothes. It’s about creating a feeling, telling a story, and giving people the opportunity to express themselves.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I moved to Los Angeles with the dream of building my own fashion brand, but getting established in the fashion industry while also trying to create a stable life for myself on my own came with a lot of challenges. Eventually, I transitioned to Las Vegas, where new opportunities and more stability fell into place.
One of the hardest parts was having to put most of my design studio and equipment into storage for several years while I worked on getting established. It was difficult to have all of these tools, fabrics, and ideas sitting there when I knew I wanted to be creating, but I never let go of the vision. Once I became more established I was finally able to bring those pieces back out and start building the brand I had envisioned.
Today, I still love returning to the Los Angeles Garment District to find inspiring fabrics and materials for the looks and designs I’m creating. In many ways, it reminds me of how far I’ve come and why I keep circiling back.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I created my brand because I genuinely love bringing the designs in my head to life. I specialize in handmade swimwear, but my work is really an intersection of fashion, costume design, and creativity. I love creating pieces that feel unique, expressive, and made to stand out.
I’m incredibly proud of the collections I’ve created and had the opportunity to showcase at Phoenix Fashion Week, New York Swim Week, and EXA Miami during Art Basel. Those experiences have pushed me to continue growing as a designer and have given me the opportunity to share my work with audiences beyond Las Vegas.
What I’m most proud of, though, is what I’ve started building here in Las Vegas. I’ve begun producing my own runway shows, creating a platform where I can showcase my designs while also giving other local designers, models, artists, and creatives an opportunity to be seen. Creating a community around fashion is just as important to me as creating the garments themselves.
One of my most recent cellections was for a Halloween fashion show, Trick or Trend. I created a Halloweeni Bikini inspired collection that blended swimwear, costume design, and runway fashion.
The collection featured in these photos was inspired by Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic portrayal of Cleopatra. I wanted to take that classic, glamorous imagery and reinterpret it through my own design aesthetic, incorporating dramatic silhouettes, vibrant colors, and swimwear elements.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m not just interested in designing clothing, I love the entire creative process, from developing an idea and constructing the garment by hand to putting together the show and creating an experience around it. I want my brand to be a place where creativity, individuality, and community come together.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up in the Midwest, I knew from a very young age that I was not a fan of the snow or being cold! I was a bit shy, but I was always creative and loved spending time indoors working on crafts, sewing projects, and making things with my hands.
At the same time, I absolutely loved summertime. My family was very close, and we spent a lot of time together doing things that created really happy memories, especially boating, swimming, and traveling. Some of my favorite memories were family trips to Florida and spending time at the beach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sunlightlover.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunlightlovershop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunlightloverShop
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-kay-crampton-b4020232/

Image Credits

https://www.instagram.com/dorsey.photography/
https://www.instagram.com/13belowphotography/
https://www.instagram.com/merlinsvisionlasvegas/