Karlie Kloss: ‘I’ve always had a competitive desire to prove that this is not just a boys’ world’

Talking of having women in the room, what sort of reaction did you get as a young woman in the fashion industry wanting to break into the tech world?

The irony is that the things that are the most authentic about me are the things that surprise people the most. I’ve had a career in fashion for half my life now. But long before I was walking runways, I was passionate about science. I always thought I’d pursue a career in medicine; my dad’s a doctor, and I thought that that would be my life’s path. So then, at 15 years old, my life took a total left turn. I ended up walking in New York Fashion Week, and pretty much overnight, I had this fast-paced, high-fashion career. So actually, to me, that was the unexpected part.

Whereas when I started Kode with Klossy, so many people were surprised by my interest in computer science, technology and business, because it wasn’t the stereotypical thing that somebody like me would transition to. But creative industries are so intertwined with technology, and I think it’s important for girls to realise that because I was always taught that they were mutually exclusive – you’re either into arts or music or fashion, or you’re into science and math. That’s why I like to say STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) instead of STEM [just Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Do you see technology changing the world of fashion and helping to solve some of the issues your first industry faces, such as size inclusivity and sustainability? 

Absolutely. A majority of our scholars build projects that are social-impact oriented, including issues in the fashion industry, whether it’s sustainability, water pollution, global warming, or size inclusivity. And it actually makes me really hopeful for the future, because I see the things our scholars care about – and they’re thinking about the problems that actual global leaders are thinking about that. So many these scholars are so young they can’t even vote, but that doesn’t stop them from taking real action. I think there’s just so much opportunity for digital technology to help solve some of the biggest issues in creative industries like fashion. I think we will see this impact in years to come in everything from sustainability and manufacturing to size inclusivity and diversity. 

Your scholars are taking action, you’re taking action – this is all quite political, and your family obviously has a high political profile. Would you consider going into politics?

Oh my goodness, I have zero interest in politics. But I will say that being an informed individual as a voter and a citizen, and being able to stand up for your rights, is something that is really important to me. And also to many of our scholars, who can’t participate in elections but still engage in voter rights. To me that’s what it’s all about; empowering our scholars to realise the power and potential that they hold.

What are your hopes for the future of women in male-dominated industries?

I hope that we have more women in leadership positions across every industry – in politics, in every corporation, in the private sector.  I think there’s this idea of, ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it’. We need to change the paradigm of girls seeing women in leadership positions to realise that they, too, can hold these positions. It doesn’t happen overnight, but we’re seeing change at Kode with Klossy – of the 12,000 scholars who have been through our programme and are in college today, 78% of them are majoring or minoring in computer science, which is crazy compared the 4% of women in the US graduating with a degree in these fields.

If you could go back to your younger self – the schoolgirl who was taught that girls cook while boys fix things – and tell her one thing, what would it be?

I would tell her, ‘Don’t underestimate your power and your potential.’ Certainly as a young 13-year-old teenage girl and all through my 20s, there were times I didn’t believe that, and I needed to hear it. There were so many times when I made myself smaller, or felt like I needed to be what other people expected me to be or wanted me to be. And I think when you actually can just tap into your authentic self – even if it’s different to what society, your family or the world expects of you – you have to be true to that. There’s so much power in that.  

To find out more about Karlie Kloss’s ‘Kode with Klossy’, visit kodewithklossy.com. The deadline to apply for this year’s coding camp in 20th March – apply here.