BDSM MEDIA NEWS!!!!
April 26, 2013
Q&A with Mina Kahn, designer and dominatrix
Source: Lasvegascitylife.com. - Lasvegascitylife.com - USA
USA - LAS VEGAS - MINA KAHN is a designer and dominatrix who brought Las Vegas’ first-ever flash mob fashion show to the Strip. After finding some success last year, participating in fashion and art shows at The Cosmopolitan, Aria and Pop Up Art Gallery, she had her heart broken by the deaths of two loved ones. After mourning for months, “Mz.” Kahn is finally getting back on track, with a show planned for this summer and the debut of a couple of new clothing lines.What have you been up to lately?I’ve been involved in fashion shows and charity events for the past few years, doing what I can do to get my designs out there to the masses. I took a bit of a hiatus and am now coming back pretty strong. I’m doing a show at a local art gallery, Pinup Point Art Gallery, that is going to showcase my new pinup line, on June 28. It’s going to be burlesque, hot rods, DJs. It’s going to be a great time. Also trying to get my large-lady lingerie line funded and started.
How would you describe your work?I make a variety of things for women: hair accessories, hair trinkets for the burlesque kind of crowd. The clothes I make range from ’50s-inspired designs - I’ve been very inspired by Bettie Page and that whole era. I range from that all the way to the fetish realm. My forte now are my corset, or peekaboo dresses, which have a corset all the way down and have a nice, pretty bow in a strategically placed spot. I make costumes. I’m in the middle of making a bridesmaid’s dress for a friend’s wedding in New Orleans. I’m making a pair of one-legged leather pants for an amputee in California, a performer. It’s quite challenging. I’m used to making two legs, but I’m excited to branch out and do different things.
How long have you been designing?I’ve been making things, costumes, since I was a little girl. Being from a poor family and not being able to afford costumes for Halloween, since I was 7 or 8 years old I’ve been putting costumes together, sewing. As I grew older, it came natural to me to make things. Not until the past five years have I taken it seriously as a career.
Is fashion your full-time job?I’m looking for other jobs. I’m a dominatrix as well. I’ve been involved in the fetish scene for about 15 years. I hope to get all my eggs in one basket to begin my latex fashion line. It’s my ultimate passion, my ultimate goal.
How did you get into BDSM?I got into it when I was 19. My best friend at the time took me to a fetish event from LA. I met some influential people in the fetish industry, and fell in love with everybody. Everybody was just so awesome and nice and easy to get along with, and happy because they were doing what they love. Next thing you know, I started fetish modeling, and then trained as a submissive for years. I went through four or five years of training before I became a dom. I’ve been in love with the lifestyle ever since.
What’s the most common misperception about the lifestyle?People who aren’t in the scene take it the wrong way and assume it’s about beating someone to a pulp, or prostitution. I’ve been accused of prostitution. It’s not about that. It’s not about having sex for money. It’s a mental mind game. People aren’t really getting that.
Sex isn’t always involved right? Or ever?No, not at all. I’ve had personal slaves, but that’s something else entirely from what I do for a living.
Last year was a tough year for you.Last year I was on fire. I was doing so well. I was booking two to four shows every month. I did shows at The Cosmopolitan, at Aria. I did the first-ever flash mob fashion show on the Strip. The news got word of it and they followed us. It was crazy. I was on fire, I couldn’t stop.
Sometime in August, August 26, to be exact, I got news that my love had died in a motorcycle accident. I was on my way to Burning Man. I was two hours away when I got the phone call. I thought going to Burning Man after this news would be good, therapeutic for me to heal and to mourn properly, which it was. I left it all out on the playa. When I got back to civilization, the obits started coming in, and it started all over again. I couldn’t say goodbye properly. He was already buried. It took a toll. I didn’t sew, I didn’t want to do shows or work with my models. I didn’t want to look at my sewing machine. All I could think about was wanting my honey back. As I started to get my mojo back, my stepmom passed away in December. It was a double whammy, and depression encircled me. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do a thing. It was hard to get over it and move on. I’ve had a lot of great friends who have helped me, and I’ve been sewing like crazy for the past month. My heart is still broken. I miss Mom, and I miss my D, but I know that they want me to succeed. I have to make them proud of me.
What’s next?I’m looking forward to another flash mob after the summer heat dies down. My upcoming show has my whole heart and soul and is dedicated to my mom and D. No matter what happens, I’m going to stay strong and make beautiful things for beautiful people. I’ll take the road to where I’ll be on fire again. I’ll be unstoppable.
To see more of Kahn’s work, go to
mzmina.wix.com/minakahninc.
See larger photo on:
lasvegascitylife.com.
