Kelly Butts-Spirito, professionally known as “Love, Kelly,” is an influential young clothing designer, event curator, and filmmaker from Burlington, Vermont. He is best known as the founder of the brand Love, Kelly, a clothing and multimedia brand. The young designer and filmmaker has done collaborations with massive brands such as Converse and VFILES as well as directed videos for some of the biggest hip hop artists in the world.
Kelly has become a young taste maker amongst fashion with his unique design style. He has been on the cutting edge of fashion and culture in New York City. As a filmmaker he has directed music videos and thrown for emerging artists with appearances from celebrities and notable figures.
He has risen to prominence in the New York creative scene, taking his work from a Vermont basement all the way to New York Fashion Week.
Born
February 14th, 2000, Burlington Vermont
Education
LIU Brooklyn 2026 Graduate
Professional Achievements:
- Fashion Design: He has showcased collections at New York Fashion Week for three seasons, including high-profile collaborations with VFILES and Converse. His design work has been widely considered the influence of some of the major brand trends in 2025 & 2026.
- Film & Music: Butts-Spirito has directed videos for major artists, including the band U2, and has curated large-scale events like his annual music festival in Vermont, which has featured artists such as Lil Uzi Vert.
- Events: Since 2021, he has curated live events under the “Love, Kelly” brand spanning music, fashion, and nightlife, with a focus on emerging artists and experimental fashion culture. He is the founder of the annual Love, Kelly Festival in Burlington, Vermont, which has featured performances from emerging musicians and appearances by notable artists, while attracting thousands of attendees. In addition to the festival, Butts-Spirito has produced runway shows during New York Fashion Week, concerts, album release events, and creative community gatherings in New York City under the Love, Kelly brand. His events are recognized for combining fashion, music, and visual storytelling to showcase emerging talent.
- Entrepreneurship: His brand, Love, Kelly is one of the most prominent emerging brands in New York. The brand also serves as an ecosystem for emerging artists, guiding unknown talents toward major label success.
Personal Journey & Advocacy
Butts-Spirito is vocal about his personal history with addiction and recovery.
- Sobriety: He has been sober since age 17, recently celebrating 9 years of sobriety in 2026.
- Speaking: He frequently addresses students and communities about resilience, values, and finding unique identity, most recently delivering the 2026 commencement speech at Thompson Falls High School.