I was recently introduced by a friend to a very talented Chicagoan, Mr. Redgi Woods. A fashion designer, Redgi grew up in a small town in Iowa and moved to Chicago for college. 7 years later he’s still here. ‘I moved here to study theatre at Columbia it didn’t take very long before the passions got redirected to fashion and styling’. He studied fashion marketing with a minor in dance in the prestigious Colombia College Chicago. Seeing that I like vintage and avant garde, I immediately fell in love with the idea of what to expect from Redgi. Imagine the mix. I was in for a surprise. Before we share with you his collection which will be featured soon, let’s get to know Redgi.
NR: Who is Redgi?
RW: Redgi is an artist, a vessel, a Leo, here to create and add value…the details are still being figured out as we go.
NR: How did fashion happen?
RW: I can’t remember not loving fashion. I’ve always had an opinion about my own wardrobe and what I liked (and didn’t like). I was always meticulous about what I wore and would even pack my own outfit to change into if I didn’t like what my mom picked. She learned very early that its best to just let me do it myself. I was interested in theatre at first, for college. The clothing is what made me love the theatre so much. The way that clothing shaped the characters, the way they moved with their costumes, etc I just love it all.
NR: Growing up, who was the fashion champ in your family?
RW: Everyone! No lie, on my mother’s side everyone has style! They dress to impress and did not apologize for it. My mom loves her shoes (as do I), my aunt Shelia is the accessory specialist, my other aunt Celita experiments with different hair styles and makeup. All my uncles could lay a suit like no bodies business. So I guess I’d have to say my grandmother because judging from her photos, I feel like we were all inspired by her sense of style.
NR: What inspires you to redefine clothing?
RW: Its my way of adding value without adding waste. There’s plenty of tangible things in the world. Instead of making new ones (which are barely worth the $ amount in actual production). I create new from preexisting high quality material. The quality of couture and handmade, tailored garments is timeless.
The hand on the garment is key; it has to feel good on the skin. There are vintage blends of fabrics, cuts or patterns that in most cases are not produced any more. I love the exclusivity of it all, and that it exists on so many different levels.
NR: Recycling is associated to giving back to the community and saving the planet. Does the same apply to your work?
RW: I feel like its apart of our mission as humans to create value within our communities and in doing so, give appreciation to the Earth that we live in. Designing is my creation process. I transition into designing from a starting as a stylist.
NR: Tell us about your journey!
RW: When I first started I didn’t have any relationships or a clue on how to create my portfolio. So I started thrift shopping to find looks to shoot, during the fittings I would change things to make it work; add darts, change the sleeves from something else, etc. After about 6 shoots I had quite the collection of pieces in which models, and my growing clientele would snatch right away! It quickly became clear that I was creating something aside from styling.
Back to the previous question, because of the way things have transitioned, I see that fashion and the recycling component are synonymous and dependent. As a re-designer I don’t have to choose:)
NR: Who inspired you all along?
RW: Patrick Kelly, a black american designer who made history as the first american and first person of color to be admitted into the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter (the governing body of the prestigious French ready-to-wear industry). Even with these accolades, many people have no clue who he is. He knew America wasn’t ready; so he left to Paris; that takes so much courage!
NR: Do you recycle everything in your life?
RW: YES! I live in Pilsen and we don’t have recycling bins so I took it upon myself to call 311 at least 3 times a week for awhile. They hated me but we finally got our bins! I understand the position of people not using them (the bins) correctly but to just not give us the option was strange. I am also a big repurpose person, one of my favorites is painting old wine bottles and using them as flower vases. With websites like Pinterest that help share DIY tips, there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t take up at least one DIY project every now and then.
NR: Are people aware of eco friendly clothing?
RW: The awareness depends on the geographical location to a certain extent. In the US, the east coast consumer is a lot more educated and takes pride in educating others on a designers mission. While on the west coast people love vintage and are very aware of eco-friendliness. So for both of these geographies to hear that I’m adding even more exclusivity and personal details to vintage excites people. Chicago is more of big box that is driven, which creates its own challenge and an area of opportunity.
NR: What percentage do you think is out there that’s currently appreciating brands that value recycling and endorse eco-friendly efforts?
RW: The basic consumer is becoming more environmentally conscious but does not always understand the meaning behind it. I know a huge percentage of people that think the concept of ‘environmentally friendly’ is simply either vintage or clothing made from sustainable material. Over time, as people become more exposed to the full umbrella of eco friendly living, things will certainly improve.
On the other hand, the concept of eco friendly clothing has also become a convenient marketing effort for many brands, who use terms ‘Green’, ‘Eco’ or ‘Sustainable’, yet fail to maintain an integrity within their production process. But to answer your question, I don’t have a precise percentage. But I’m a glass half full kind of guy so I’d had to say that the percentage of people that are aware is growing pretty rapidly. Again, its pretty relative to the geographical area. In larger more urban cities, there’s an increasing general awareness that’s affecting and playing a role in all facets of people’s lives. From where they shop (farmers market vs grocery store), how they shop (reusable totes vs paper/ plastic) to what’s actually bought (fresh vs frozen).
NR: I just thought of a fun question, I know you like theatrical costumes. If you had a choice to live in an age based on their fashion era, which would it be?
RW: Hmmm….men dressed amazing during the Victorian era but there’s something magical about the Roman era. The drama of the draping and massive gold accessories was great! #warriorwear
NR: Any tips on life?
RW: Never leave the house without doing the essential check; Phone. Keys. Wallet.
NR: What’s your opinion of Beyonce?
RW: I was actually thinking about Beyonce all day yesterday. Old school Destiny’s Child on spotify and a full moment over all the DC3 concerts I had seen, including dragging my little brother when the original group came to the Cattle Congress in Waterloo, IA. back in 98 I think. To me, she’s always been a little of a guilty pleasure.
About Chicago
NR: What makes Chicago special?
RW: The thing about Chicago is it REALLY feels like a big town. Also there are pockets of amazing communities spread around this city. I’ve lived everywhere from far south side (Southshore) to Roger Park on the north side; each move felt like a whole new city. And though I loathe it at times in the winter, having 4 seasons is pretty awesome. And let’s not even start about how great this city is in the summer! There are very few places that top summer time Chicago.
NR: How did Chicago help your growth?
RW: Chicago is very much a “show me what you made of” type city. The city has a way of forcing the hustle out of you in order to make things happen. Through my work here I’ve formed relationships with my clients that are unparalleled, like a second family.
NR: Quotes you live by?
“Its better to be a 1st rate version of yourself rather than a 2nd rate anyone else” -anonymous
My mother would always say “You can tell everything you need to know about someone by their hair, teeth and shoes.”
To get in touch with Redgi, visit http://refindefined.com/
