Biography
"Do not look for happiness, create it."
Kenneth Rykewood has been fascinated by fashion since his childhood in Puerto Rico, where he grew up across the street from a clothing factory. He developed his artistic and creative talents at the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamon, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He then moved to New York City to pursue a career in modeling and acting, signing with several agencies and appearing in numerous film and television productions.
Rykewood is an accomplished international model and certified video producer with a career spanning elite runways from Dubai, Copenhagen and Mexico City to NYFW: The Shows. Since founding Fashion Public Corporation in 2017, he has worked to bridge global industry gaps through marketing, consulting, fashion education, and media production. Leveraging his expertise in film, Rykewood has documented every season of NYFW and serves as a production assistant at BRIC TV, where he is currently producing an original short-form documentary. He is actively seeking strategic partnerships to expand his fashion designs, modeling career, and multimedia ventures.
His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts in Special and Elementary Physical Education from the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón and specialized training at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Building upon this core, he expanded his expertise in 2021 by commencing studies in sustainable fashion at Farmingdale State College. Driven by a commitment to community impact, he became an active member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) in 2025. He is seeking a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences at a land-grant university, where he aims to synthesize his industry experience with a dedication to human welfare. His goal is to integrate fashion design and merchandising with community-centric initiatives, focusing on renewable energy consumption in apparel production, textile sustainability, and therapeutic sewing for social recreation.
Rykewood is dedicated to empowering individuals through art, media, and fashion. He has provided educational services to various communities, including seniors and adults, through his work with Fashion Public Corporation. His teaching experience extends to institutions such as the Brooklyn Public Library, Willoughby Senior Center, Borinquen Senior Center, and United Senior Center of Sunset Park. In recognition of his artistic and pedagogical contributions, Rykewood was awarded an art residency by the Brooklyn Arts Council as part of the SU CASA Award Program for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025.