Today we’d like to introduce you to Blight.
Hi Blight, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a self-taught artist and designer from Detroit, creating wearable art under the name Be The Light. My journey didn’t begin in a fashion school or a traditional studio—it started with a desire to transform what already existed into something new, edgy and fun. I’m really drawn to the stories embedded in materials, especially discarded ones. What some people see as waste, I see as possibility and function.
Over the years, I taught myself how to screen print and sew, experimenting with everything from vintage blankets and tapestries to neckties, curtains, burlap, and donated garments. What began as curiosity evolved into a practice rooted in sustainability, storytelling, and transformation. Each piece I create is one-of-one, carrying traces of its former life while becoming something entirely new with meaning.
Detroit has played a huge role in shaping my perspective. It’s a city that understands resilience, reinvention, and creating beauty from what others overlook. For a long time it was abandoned, blighted and forgotten about. Those themes naturally found their way into my work. Through Be The Light, I explore ideas of interconnectedness, healing, spirituality, and the relationship between people and the materials they wear.
Today, my work exists somewhere between fashion, sculpture, and storytelling. I create garments, installations, and community-centered experiences that invite people to see value differently—not just in clothing, but in themselves and the world around them. Every collection is an ongoing conversation about transformation: taking what is broken, forgotten, or discarded and revealing its potential to become something meaningful.
What started with a sewing machine and a few reclaimed materials has grown into a full-time artistic practice, and I’m grateful to continue building that vision one piece, one conversation, and one reworked reality at a time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. A big part of the challenge has been not having access to the traditional gateways into fashion—things like funding, big event investments, or established industry connections that help designers get showcased on larger platforms. A lot of those spaces require money upfront or relationships I didn’t have at the time.
So instead of waiting for those opportunities, I built my own lane. I focused on doing local pop-ups in Detroit, showing up consistently in my city, and slowly building a name for myself through direct connection with people. That grassroots approach became my foundation.
Looking back, I’ve actually sold close to a thousand one-of-one handmade pieces through that process, which still feels surreal to say out loud. Every piece was made individually, by hand, and moved through real human connection rather than industry placement.
Another major struggle was internal. For a long time, I didn’t fully believe in myself or the work I was creating. That mindset held me back more than anything external. But over time, that shifted completely. Now my mentality is the opposite. I move with a strong sense of purpose and trust in what I’m building, even when the path isn’t conventional.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Be The Light is a wearable art brand rooted in transformation, intention, and elevated storytelling through fashion. I create one-of-one garments using reclaimed and repurposed materials—each piece is built with a deep focus on texture, symbolism, and composition. My work lives at the intersection of streetwear, sculptural design, and conceptual art, where clothing becomes a form of narrative and presence rather than just style.
I specialize in highly detailed, textural garments that carry a strong visual and energetic identity. Every piece is intentionally designed to feel like a statement, something that requires presence, confidence, and alignment with the energy it carries. I’m known for creating work that feels both grounded and expressive, often drawing from themes of duality, transformation, and personal mythology.
Be The Light is also a living space as much as it is a brand. I currently book private appointments every Thursday at The Light Haus, where clients are able to experience the full current catalog, including unseen and unreleased pieces. Locals always receive first access, and I deeply value the direct connection between the work and the individuals who wear it. The people who gravitate toward my pieces are often conscious, intentional, and aligned with the energy behind the brand, which makes the exchange feel very personal and meaningful.
Looking forward, I’m expanding into collaborations beyond my immediate region—working with creatives, stylists, and artists from other states and countries who align with the vision. My goal is to continue building relationships that exist beyond borders and to place Be The Light on global figures and cultural leaders whose presence matches the boldness of the work.
I’m also actively evolving the craft itself. My focus is on refining quality, deepening material exploration, and pushing the technical side of garment construction, from surface detail to the most microscopic elements of how a piece is built. As the work grows, so does the intention behind it. The pieces are becoming more intricate, more refined, and more elevated in value, reflecting the evolution of both the brand and the artist behind it.
Ultimately, Be The Light is about presence, what it means to be seen, to take up space, and to wear something that carries meaning beyond aesthetics.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see my industry growing into something much more structured and expanded for me personally. I want Be The Light to evolve into a brick-and-mortar space in Detroit—somewhere people can experience the work in person, not just online or at pop-ups. A permanent home for the brand feels important in the next stage.
I also see myself traveling more, working in different states and countries to collaborate with other artists and creatives. I want to build outside of my immediate environment and gain more global exposure and experience through real creative exchange.
My focus is shifting toward doing things on a broader scale—less vending, more curated experiences, online sales, and intentional collaborations. I want the work to exist in more spaces without losing its individuality.
I also see myself dressing celebrities and people with strong presence—individuals who naturally align with bold, expressive, statement-driven pieces. That’s the level I’m working toward creatively.
I plan to stay rooted in sustainability, but continue refining the work as it grows. I would love to collaborate with larger brands like Carhartt, Dickies, and other heritage workwear or design-driven labels, while also continuing to work with independent artists.
Overall, I see myself stepping fully into growth—bigger platforms, stronger collaborations, and a wider reach—while still keeping the core of the work personal, intentional, and handcrafted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.bethelight222.com
- Instagram: @bethelight.222
Image Credits
3rd photo: Model Christian Copley
4th model: Ciara aka seliseism
5th photo: photography by Dasia Chesney
8th photo model: Marina
11th model: Khalil Gentry
