Wrapped in Confidence
Feeling Empowered With Silk
Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Eric Morales Styled By Meggie Copeland Modeled by Hannah Lasure
A good accessory can make an outfit, but a great accessory will make a statement. Kylee Barnard, founder of Silk Diaries, is on a mission to define that statement with her naturally dyed silk accessories that are made to empower women, specifically in the workplace.
With an artistic background and a degree from Savannah College of Art and Design, Barnard found herself working as a Visual Designer after college. As she embarked on her newfound career, she began to struggle with confidence in the workplace and started dealing with anxiety and stress brought on by her environment. Upon remembering a silk blanket she used to soothe herself as a child, Barnard set out to create silk scarves for herself to imitate the same calming effect. From there, the idea for Silk Diaries began to blossom.
Barnard uses natural items such as plants, flowers, and even fruits to botanically dye her silks, producing one-of-a-kind designs that are each as unique as the individual who wears them. But whether it’s through a scarf or one of the other silk items she produces, like bralettes and pillow cases, her mission is the same: to build a community for women to feel capable, empowered, and open to vulnerability no matter what stage of life they’re in.
She exudes her mission confidently, “I want [women] to feel like they’re not alone,” she says. “That they deserve whatever they want in life whether it’s a full-time career, or to be a mom, or to have a side hustle, or to go after the creative side of themselves.”
As a member of Broad Studios, the female art collective based out of Springdale General, Barnard also hosts workshops where inquiring minds can learn about the process of botanically dyeing silks and create a one-of-a-kind piece of their own. Through her processes and products, she also hopes to inspire sustainability. She thoughtfully asks consumers to “ask questions about where they’re buying their clothing from, who sews it, what it’s dyed with, and beyond that too.”
Whether she’s teaching a workshop, participating in a pop-up event around town, or experimenting with new designs, Barnard always has her message for the community of women in mind.
“I just hope that people see themselves in the silks that I create and feel the community and camaraderie, and don’t feel alone,” says Barnard. “[I hope] they feel supported and empowered.”
Contact
silkdiaries.co
@silkdiaries.co
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