Peace is the guiding light for Richard Jeffries, the creator and President of Ricardo DSean. The name is inspired by his father, who used to call him Ricardo DSean as a sort of creative name. Years later it has become the identity of his brand.
His story began back in school where he would make custom T-Shirts for himself. He wanted clothing that expressed who he was. Growing up around hustlers, so Richard knew money was the motive. This ultimately led him into a full-time career in fashion. With a rollercoaster of a journey, he found his footing in 2017 when Ricardo DSean was born. As he has expanded into a well-known designer in the area, the notoriety has followed.
How would you describe your brand?
“Timeless luxury garments. I always say garments because I don’t like saying clothes… These are things you want to take care of and I try to keep the brand classy” This is what you can expect from the brand. Richard places a big emphasis on the quality of his clothing. From the amount of time he spends studying to flying out to LA monthly to meet with manufacturers, he is committed to relentless improvement.
Streetwear is the brand’s style, we've seen staple pieces like letter jackets and various Tees from Ricardo DSean. They recently released some SS24 pieces, which feature a crewneck and sweat short set with an acid wash and pastel lettering. It's produced with soft cotton perfect for the spring and summertime.
What are some challenges of being a designer?
“A lot of consumers don’t see the culture for what the creator sees it. I got caught up in putting the right people in my clothes, being in front of celebrities, and being in publications. Being everything I didn’t want.” With social media dictating most of today’s trends, Richard expressed the difficulties he’s had to deal with staying true to his brand. As a creative, it’s so easy to be consumed with what everyone’s doing and try to ride those waves. He's had to take a step back to find himself and rediscover what he originally loved, which is creating and designing.
Richard mentioned the importance of reinvesting in his brand. His business acumen is what sets him apart. As a fashion designer, it's not just about the clothes but the experience you create for your audience. He’s built a team that allows him to focus on what he is good at. He also emphasized being a student of the game, and that continuously learning is the only path forward in being a full-time designer.
This conversation with Richard was insightful. I learned more about Ricardo DSean and the DC/ DMV fashion world. It all starts at home, and it is important to support local clothing brands because they are the real innovators and needle pushers. Be sure to check out his website at https://www.ricardodsean.com.
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