It only takes one minute to walk from K. Walker Collective to the Detroit School of Arts, but it was a much longer journey for Ken Walker to go from student with big aspirations to fashion designer, store owner, and mentor.
“Midtown is near and dear to me because my vision of becoming a fashion designer began there [at school],” he explains. “It meant a lot to be a part of the resurgence of the area.”
Walker’s brand, K. Walker Collective, launched online in June 2018. After a two-year residency at Détroit Is the New Black to test out the business, along with completing TechTown Detroit’s Retail Boot Camp, Walker opened his store at 4161 Cass Ave. in November 2022.
The aesthetic of K. Walker Collective is clean yet edgy, with not-the-norm color choices (think canary yellow) always available. “I’m designing for those who are looking for ways to bring out their audacious spirit,” he says. “It’s a mindset. We all have ambition and drive, and clothing helps us to be confident and walk in that power we all possess.”
Walker, who teaches fashion and brand management at the College for Creative Studies, is also giving options to young Michigan-based makers with The Kollective, an in-store accelerator program in partnership with Pure Michigan Business Connect. The designers are mentored by Walker and actively help sell and market their own merchandise.
For more on The Kollective, visit pmbc.connect.space/the-kollective.
My go-to work uniform is …
A polo shirt. They are universally comfortable yet professional.
My favorite item in my closet is …
My crazy collection of hoodies that I will never get rid of. It is a universal thing that I am most comfortable wearing. I even pair them with dress pants.
My style philosophy:
Don’t overdo it. If you wear too many accessories, or try too hard to match everything, people are going to lose sight of the core item you want to bring attention to.
My style is influenced by …
Comfort. I don’t want to feel restrained, but I also want to find unique ways to coordinate with core pieces. Shoes inspire me when I’m thinking of different colors to wear.
I don’t leave the house without …
My Cartier glasses and an umbrella. My K. Walker Collective satin jacket is also a regular go-to.
The trend I want to bring back as a designer:
I miss the times when everybody went all out when dressed up. Like the Harlem Renaissance era, when men were wearing suits and that was the norm. Casual wear has made people very lax in what they wear in different spaces.
Unadventurous shoppers can be bolder with their fashion choices by …
Wearing the color that scares you.
I’m inspired by …
Ralph Lauren because of how expansive his vision was and how it became a lifestyle and a staple in American style. I want to create an entity. We’ll have a coffee shop opening soon and a line of coffee blends. I’m thinking about how the ethos of the clothing brand will lean into these other product categories.
My advice for designers on determining their style:
Don’t assimilate to the culture — disrupt the culture. The best way to approach any market as a designer is to do something different.
This story originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our digital edition will be available on Dec. 9.
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