This month, I highlight Riveriswild, another DMV-based brand that's pushing the needle forward. I got to speak with Wale Akinbiyi, Founder/ Co-Owner, and here's how it went:
So looking through your site, I noticed some cultural references specifically the Benin Jaguars and Sade Adu. How does culture play a part in the brand?
It plays a big part. The entire thing started as a diary of my memory from growing up in Nigeria. As we grew, we started to add the memories of our team members who are from America, Cote De Voire, and Zambia. Everyone brings their own unique experience; with that, we can tell all these stories from the diaspora.
With that being the base, what does the process of designing a garment from concept to the first iteration look like?
This is an interesting question because it can go anywhere and it's never linear. Design always starts with a feeling, whether it's a memory I'm trying to convey or a moment that I can literally feel. We’ve done collections based on color - there are memories of being in Nigeria and the Garba at the gates of the house would be selling his goods. I remember the feeling that I had with my 5 or 10 naira that I'd used to go buy a Gala. We’ve built a whole collection on that feeling. Designing clothes starts with the feeling and we find things that evoke that emotion.
Mm I want to know that feeling, can you describe that?
Okay.. here’s an example. We did a different collection based on the green color of the light of Femi Kuti’s Shoki Shoki album. For me, this was a huge coming-of-age album. It’s the first “Afrobeat” or “Fela’s Afrobeat” that did everything a 17-minute Fela song did but in 2 minutes and I was blown at how he did that. That's the feeling.
Interesting that a single color can be the foundation of an entire collection. How does color theory play in your collections?
You know every process leads to different roads for us. If it's a literal color then it'll be based on that but again we try to have fun with it. I want to see every possible combination. I don't want to be closed off to a certain color. I know the colors I like so I don't like to pigeonhole the entire project just based on my instinctual taste. There are color combinations that I don't know of but end up loving. For example, for our most recent totes and bucket hats, there’s a multi-colored version which was a complete accident and honestly, it came out fire.
Let's switch gears a bit. Creating and designing clothes is an art form that can be difficult to execute. What do you think is the biggest challenge of being a Designer?
Infrastructure and money. It's not like songwriting where I can make a song with little to no money. It may not be the best but it can still be done. The same can’t be done when you’re making clothes. So finding ways to make money is always a challenge but it pushes us to get creative.
Alright and the most rewarding part?
The most rewarding part hm… that changes because we change depending on where we are in life. I would say right now, being able to talk to my family and them recognizing and legitimately supporting River is Wild. I am grateful to have a family that believes in my vision because not everyone has that kind of support. Also, anytime I receive pictures of someone in our brand. Funny enough someone recently sent a photo of their Uber driver in one of our jackets. Yeah, that was dope!
I bet that the feeling of having people in your pieces is special. So when they wear it, how do you want people to feel?
First off I want them to feel fly. I want them to feel like how Nigerians feel. You know that energy. You just can't take that out of us.
LOL we all know that energy!! What's your favorite piece that the brand has released? Hm that's hard but it might be the silk scarves we made. I've always wanted to make an accessory my mother could use and I feel like that was the triumph. It’s a product that has transcended our regular clientele.
That is so important! Being versatile enough that you can sell beyond your target audience. Often designers limit themselves to one niche community. So are there any goals or visions in the coming future for the brand?
Right now we’re working on creating more and more things from scratch. We are customizing our blanks from the fabric content to the measurement cuts. We want it completely done by us. We’re expanding and we want to be able to push more unique options out to our customers.
This was a great conversation with Wale. I got to pick his brain especially when it came to the design process of a garment. I know there are a lot of dope things in store for Riveriswild. Visit and support the brand at riveriswild.com.
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