The fashion industry is tricky business to be in. Constantly changing trends force brands to stay relevant and remain in a state of constant production. The rise of micro-trends has led to a major increase in waste produced by the fashion industry. And it is not as though the constant shifting of trends and repeated closet overhauls necessarily make us feel our best. More often than not, we feel our best in pieces that feel uniquely our own. Nobody understands this feeling better than Keenan Holcombe, founder of Rye Dylan Reworks.
Keenan runs a custom clothing business focused on one-of-a-kind, handmade, sustainable streetwear, with no factory or mass production. His claim to fame is repurposing vintage fabrics and materials into fresh designs. He started the business in Calgary, but has recently wound up back here in Golden, where he lived as a teenager.
The inspiration for this work came from another one of Keenan’s passions: music.
“I started making clothes because I wanted to make myself stuff that I could wear on stage and stuff that nobody else had.”
He made music for years under the name “Little King,” but as his career and circumstances changed, the sewing hobby remained.
“My mom gave me her sewing machine, and then some people were like, ‘Oh, can you make me something?’ My friends were around me to make them stuff, and then my girlfriend, wife now, was like, ‘You gotta make an Instagram page. This could be something.’”
And something it did become. He created an Instagram page and TikTok account to showcase his work, and the interest quickly grew.
“I lost my job, and I was already making pretty decent money on the side with my clothing. But I was like, ‘What am I gonna do? Do I go get another job?’ My buddy was like, ‘Dude, you’ve wanted to do this full time. Just try.’”
Some of his videos began going viral, and soon enough, it was becoming a full-time gig for Keenan.
His unique design style established itself early in his reworking days, and it all centres around one feeling: nostalgia.
“I always watch childhood cartoons while I’m working and stuff like that, so I love that era.”
Looking through his creations, this is evident. Whether it is an Aladdin sleeping bag jacket, a Barbie towel two-piece set, or a Winnie-the-Pooh blanket turned into a hoodie, each piece is dripping with memories.
“That’s kind of the goal with it all, is to bring you back to that time when you remember having those things.”
And he is happy to help others bring back their own beloved childhood memories.
“If you have a blanket from your childhood that you’re still hanging on to and it’s just collecting dust, I’d love to turn that into something. I love when people send me their blankets.”
Keenan’s work is known as reworking because he is taking something that already had one purpose, whether it is a towel, a bedsheet or a sleeping bag, and giving the material a new life.
For Keenan, this is not just about affordability or convenience, but a genuine love of vintage materials.
“I find you look at bed sheets and bedding nowadays, and it’s just not the same. It doesn’t have the same kind of colours as it used to, and it just doesn’t have the same vibe.”
He sources most of his materials from thrift stores, eBay and occasional donations, and sustainability stays front of mind whenever Keenan is reworking. Making his own clothes and understanding the amount of time that goes into every garment has given him a chilling understanding of what fast fashion really means.
“There is a human behind making that, and I don’t know… I have a hard time, I think, justifying paying for my clothing sometimes.”
That appreciation for craftsmanship and originality has resonated far beyond Alberta.
Over the last several years, Keenan’s work has caught the attention of musicians, athletes and internet personalities from around North America. His custom pieces have been worn by Avril Lavigne, Mod Sun, Young Gravy, Redman, Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan, DJ Premier, as well as several NBA and NFL players.
One of those opportunities came through musician Mod Sun and his at the time girlfriend, Avril Lavigne.
“I messaged him and was like, ‘Hey man, I’d love to make you something,… I’d love to make you guys some hoodies.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, for sure, I’ll be in Calgary next month.’ So I made them both hoodies, went to the show, gave them to them. That was pretty cool.”
Another memorable collaboration came after Keenan reached out to comedian and YouTuber Kurtis Conner over their shared appreciation for Digimon.
He designed Conner a custom sweater inspired by the childhood cartoon and expected to simply mail it off. Instead, Conner invited him to a sold-out show in Portland where the two met in person. Keenan was able to hand-deliver the sweater backstage, spend time with the comedian and even attend the show with his wife.
Experiences like these have helped build Rye Dylan Reworks into a recognizable brand online, with several of his creations going viral across social media and earning features from outlets including People Magazine, Inside Edition and CityTV.
Despite all of that exposure, Keenan’s latest chapter is taking place much closer to home.
After recently moving back to Golden with his wife and young daughter, he has set up shop inside Zodiac Hemp, where he offers clothing alterations and repairs alongside his custom creations.
“I’ve just been back for about six months, but it’s been really nice. The town’s been super supportive, ‘cause I’m like, ‘Hey, I just moved back. I’m doing alterations and rework clothing if anybody wants to swing by; I’m more than happy to help you out,’ and a lot of people have come by. Like, I’ve been paying my rent since I moved back with my clothing.”
Along with creating one-of-a-kind jackets, hoodies and accessories, Keenan now spends much of his week hemming pants, repairing denim and giving well-loved clothing a second chance.
He says the move has also introduced him to a whole new range of projects unique to mountain towns. Outdoor jackets, ski pants, camper curtains and technical gear have all found their way onto his sewing table, pushing him to learn new techniques while helping people extend the life of equipment they already own.
That community support has come in more ways than simply dropping off repairs.
Residents have donated quilt samples, vintage blankets, fabric and other unique materials that have become part of future creations. Those contributions not only provide inspiration, but reinforce the community-minded approach that Keenan hopes to continue building in Golden.
“Everyone’s been really good since I’ve been back.”
Looking ahead, he hopes to become even more involved locally. He would love to take part in the Golden Farmers’ Market with live sewing demonstrations, where visitors could watch clothing being reworked in real time or have simple customizations done on the spot. Another idea he hopes to bring to town is a “Sip and Sew” evening, giving people an opportunity to learn basic sewing skills while creating something of their own.
“I’d like to do more things to be involved in the community. Just trying to figure out how to do that.”
Eventually, Keenan hopes to open a dedicated storefront in Golden that reflects the same personality as his clothing. Rather than a traditional retail space, he imagines somewhere filled with vintage video games, VHS tapes, nostalgic decor and, of course, plenty of colourful fabrics waiting to be transformed.
While his work has found fans around the world, it is easy to understand why Golden feels like the right place to build the next stage of his business.
“I love it here, and we have a daughter, so it’s great to raise a kid here. Like, it’s safe. All my friends here have kids. My friends’ kids, like, six and ten, they bike around town with no parental supervision with their friends and have a great time.”
“That’s something that I would like for my daughter to have. Because that’s how I grew up.”
He also appreciates something that many long-time residents might take for granted: a community that values people for more than just the job they do.
“I really, really like Golden. There’s a lot of outdoor people here. I’ve always liked it here. It’s always been a good time.”
Whether he’s transforming a childhood blanket into a one-of-a-kind jacket, repairing a favourite pair of jeans or dreaming up his next nostalgic creation, Keenan’s goal remains the same: giving old materials and old memories a new life.
To see more of Keenan’s work, browse available materials for custom projects or learn more about Rye Dylan Reworks, visit his website at ryedylanreworks.com. You can also follow Rye Dylan Reworks on Instagram and TikTok to see his latest creations. Or stop by the Zodiac to see his work in person.
