Member Spotlight | Brandi McMichael

Member Spotlight | Fashion Denver / Creative Mornings Denver / Kingdom Work feat. Brandi McMichael

In Denver’s vibrant Ballpark neighborhood, Brandi McMichael is a powerhouse of creativity, connection, and community. As the founder of Fashion Denver, host of CreativeMornings/Denver, and visionary behind Kingdom Work, Brandi blends fashion, faith, and creativity to inspire others to chase their dreams. Her work is a celebration of local talent, purposeful design, and the belief that when people come together, incredible things happen.

Thrive: Tell us about what your company does.

Brandi: I wear a few creative hats here in the Ballpark neighborhood!

Fashion Denver — Founded in 2004, Fashion Denver celebrates and supports our local fashion community through events, storytelling, and connection.

CreativeMornings / Denver — I’m the host and producer of the monthly breakfast lecture series that brings our creative community together for inspiration, coffee, and connection (and a lot of hugs and high-fives)!

Kingdom Work — My newest creative venture, bringing faith-forward fashion to life! Kingdom Work blends upcycled design with biblical inspiration — fashion as a vessel, hope as a mission.

Small Business Development — Through my consulting work, I help entrepreneurs bring their dreams to life — from branding and web design to marketing strategy and storytelling.

At the heart of it all, I love connecting people, sparking creativity, and building community right here in Ballpark!

Thrive: How long have you been in business?

Brandi: It all began back in 1999, when my entrepreneurial journey took off with a dream to create, connect, and build community through fashion! What started as one small idea has grown into 25+ years of creative adventures, connection, and purpose.

Thrive: What inspired you to create your business?

Brandi: I’ve always been inspired by people chasing their dreams. From the beginning, my goal has been to create spaces where creativity and community collide — where people feel supported, seen, and inspired to do what they love.

Thrive: What was your biggest success in the past year?

Brandi: My biggest success this past year was taking a leap of faith from my amazing “day job” to fully focus on my creative purpose. I poured that energy into designing a full Kingdom Work collection that debuted at Denver Fashion Week’s Spring Sustainable Fashion Show — a journey from Genesis through Revelation, reimagined through sustainable, upcycled fashion!

Thrive: How has Thrive supported your business?

Brandi: Definitely through the incredible sense of community! Being surrounded by people I can connect with, brainstorm with, and cheer on (and be cheered on by!) is the best part. I also love having my desk in the Ballpark Bullpen — it’s such an inspiring space — and having access to the conference and training rooms for hosting Fashion Camps and creative gatherings. Thrive truly helps bring people together!

Thrive: What recent challenge did you face?

Brandi: One of my biggest challenges has been managing all the different things I’m involved in — from Fashion Denver and CreativeMornings to Kingdom Work and client projects. I’ve learned that I can’t do it all, so I’ve been creating systems to stay organized and, most importantly, learning to say no to the things that don’t align with my heart. It’s a constant dance, but one that’s helping me focus on what truly matters.

Thrive: What’s your favorite piece of advice?

Brandi: One of my favorite pieces of advice is to “focus on the essential and eliminate the rest.” It’s simple but powerful — and something I try to remind myself of every day! As someone with lots of creative ideas and projects, it’s not always easy, but it helps me stay centered on what truly matters and let go of the distractions.

Thrive: What’s your favorite quote that would inspire other entrepreneurs and business leaders for 2025?

Brandi: One of my favorite quotes — and something I’ve carried with me for over two decades — is: “Those who step outside their comfort zones to pursue their dreams will always find true happiness.”

That reminder has guided so many of my own leaps of faith and creative adventures. Growth and joy really do live just outside the comfort zone!