Today, we’re excited to talk with EDGEWOODralph, a trendsetting fashion designer known for his bold and creative style. In this interview, we’ll explore his inspirations, design process, and vision for the future of fashion. Let’s learn more about what drives his unique designs.
What inspired you to pursue a career in fashion design?
I didn’t find fashion. Fashion found me. I’ve always gotten compliments for my style. Eventually, that turned into me creating and designing my own looks. Two years ago I got fired from a six-figure job. I wrote a note that said, “I will never work for another person again.” Thank God the people wanted to buy the clothes I made. I couldn’t be happier. Paths have a funny way of revealing themselves sometimes.
How would you describe your design aesthetic, and what sets it apart from other designers?
Handmade. OitsENDLESS products are designed, cut, and sewn with human hands. Most “brands” these days are made to perfection in a foreign factory. Every piece is the exact same. The products look great! They also look identical. Brands are trading creativity and authenticity for fast fashion at bargain prices. OitsENDLESS is art. Our one-of-one pieces ensure individuality. Our process prioritizes art. Moreover, we document the process to allow the consumer to participate in the design phase.
Can you walk us through your creative process when designing a new collection?
I can show you my design process because I film everything. We’ve put together a short film to document designing my collection and then taking that collection to New York Fashion Week. Check out my socials for updates on that film. If I had to put it in words, it’s simple. I work very hard. I create until I see something I like. Then I build off of that. I may start with a theme or find it along the way.
What role do sustainability and ethical fashion play in your design choices?
My fashion philosophy is rooted in sustainability and ethical fashion choices. Fast fashion consumes an unreasonable amount of our planet’s water and produces an excess of carbon emissions. I’m not with it. More importantly, fast fashion creates a culture where creativity and individuality are secondary to consumerism and trend culture. Nobody Fresh. Our efforts in sustainability show up on every single garment. A large part of this collection involves taking the scraps from leftover pieces to make patches on the subsequent work.
Which designers or fashion icons have influenced your style the most?
My first fashion inspiration has to be Ralph Lauren. His designs never seemed like costumes. They always felt like something people actually wore but in a much more sophisticated environment. So many designers focus on shock and awe to compel an audience. Ralph always relied on class, elegance, and aspiration to stand apart. Additionally, Kanye, Virgil, Pharrell, Damon Johns, Dame, and Jay Z made me aware that I could have a voice in fashion. I love them for that.
How do you stay ahead of trends while maintaining your unique vision?
God got me. I always told my late father, “I think my Google results show me exactly what I need to see!” I meant that somehow I have always been on the cutting edge of culture. I don’t think that there is anything very scientific or glamorous happening. I see brand-new ideas and can quickly understand if they will work for the world. Then I steal all the best ideas!
What challenges have you faced as a rising designer, and how have you overcome them?
The best challenges are creative ones. The times I get to ask myself how to outdo the last design or how to finish a current design are my favorite challenges. However, The reality is that fashion is a business like any other. The less fun challenges revolve around funding, marketing, and sales. How do you get someone to buy into a brand they never heard of? The better question is how do you get them to hear of it?
Can you share a moment in your career that felt like a breakthrough?
I feel like there is a breakthrough every day. Each time we consider the mountain of obstacles and decide to keep going we have broken through. More specifically, when I finished my first collection and had no idea where to sell it, I set up a rack outside. I sold out. When I saw that people would support the product despite the fears I harbored I realized that I had to keep going despite everything.
What advice would you give to aspiring fashion designers trying to break into the industry?
Keep going. And if you ever find me as your competition, may the best man win. So, don’t be my competition.
Where do you see your brand in the next five years, and what are your goals moving forward?
Five years from now, the most aware, fashionable, and exclusive people will be trying to secure my work. They will have this opportunity to collect my work through limited drops on my official channels and my collaborations with renowned fashion houses (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and YSL) and consumer fashion giants (Nike, H&M, and Target).
The OiE goal will be continuing to create handmade works to maintain quality and consistency.
Be’n Original
