About Me
Khi Van Allen
khiry@tuta.io
Instagram
Khi Van Allen is a multidisciplinary textile artist and designer. His work blends storytelling, rebellion, and cultural memory through knitwear, denim, and experimental garment construction. He creates pieces that disrupt, reveal, and empower.
Artist Bio
Khi’s practice blends fashion, storytelling, and social commentary, exploring themes of rebellion, cultural identity, and empowerment. Specializing in knitwear and denim, Khi creates narrative-driven garments using natural dyes and sustainable techniques. His work challenges traditional textile design, often incorporating unconventional materials to push boundaries and engage with social issues.
His label, Swim Garden, is known for hand-knit garments, leatherwork, and experimental silhouettes that examine hidden messages in visual culture, drawing inspiration from historical propaganda, nightlife, and underrepresented communities.
Khi’s practice is rooted in sustainability and craftsmanship, focused on creating long-lasting, ethically produced garments. He is also deeply committed to community engagement, organizing artist-led experiences that provide platforms for independent textile artists to showcase their work. His long-term vision is to build a permanent space for independent designers that celebrates sustainable fashion and artistic innovation.
Khi’s work has been featured in pop-ups and collaborative shows throughout Chicago, New Orleans, & New York. He creates garments that ask us to slow down, look deeper, and notice the messages woven into the world around us, encouraging people to wear with intention and question the culture shaping them.
“Question everything. Wear what you mean.“
Education
Material Institute (Ultrices)
Fashion & Textiles Designer
2024
Northern Illinois University
B.S. in Business Management
2016
Art Institute of Chicago
Artist Internship
2012
Solo Shows
(upcoming) Tincidunt TBA
Ultricies Ultricies,
Congue Nisl
2026
(upcoming) Vestibulum-Vitae
Auctor Ipsum,
Dictumst Ligula,
Porta Libero
2024
Suspendisse
Molestie Aenean,
Facilisis Tellus,
Porta Libero
2024
Ultrices
Parturient Felis,
Pharetra Nibh,
Porta Libero
2023
Group Shows
Eu & Fringilla, Collaborative
Imperdiet with Quam Sodales
2023
Semper
Cursus Tempus,
Porta Libero
2023
Dictum, Elit. Vestibulum
Gravida Congue
2023
Rhoncus Congue
Ullamcorper Suspendisse,
Duis Ornare Porta Libero
2023
Pellentesque Ornare
Porttitor Ultrices,
Sagittis Tempor
2022