Clementine Zawadzki: How and why did you first get into fashion?
Rhuigi Villaseñor: When I was younger my mother used to make our school uniforms or costumes for plays… I don’t really know if that was the start of my passion, but I distinctly remember seeing how happy it made my mom, watching us wear the clothes she made. That certainly fuelled me. And to be honest, I got into fashion out of necessity. I studied Art History and was on track to be a curator, but times were hard for us financially as a family and I wanted to help at home. Fashion was the way that made the most sense for me.

CZ: What’s the affect of that personal connection?
RV: The brand is an extension of my dreams, passions, and life experiences. Every collection tells a story, whether it’s something I went through or something I’ve been thinking about and can’t get out of my head. Rhude is deeply personal to me – what started out as a necessity has become a way for me to tell my stories.

CZ: Starting out as a teen, what were those initial ideas like?
RV: I still have those sketches and pieces! To be honest, it’s very similar to what I’m making now, but I’ve refined the styles and improved on the fabrics and construction. Growing up, my father had a really cool, flamboyant “Gucci” style, so I reference a lot of his style – that mix of eclectic and refined – but the brand has stayed pretty consistent.

CZ: Who initially inspired you?
RV: Pharrell and Nigo… I think it was more like a kid kind of looking at Willy Wonka’s factory and it gave me hope that I can have that magnitude of impact in design something cool and culturally really powerful.

CZ: Has this changed throughout the years?
RV: Yeah of course as I got older, I understand more about luxury and how I want to define it in my own way. My family and my hometown has become a bigger inspiration, as well. I think the definition of luxury is all the simple things in life, but in its truest form.

CZ: What do you love about street wear?
RV: It’s honest. It’s what people really wear.

Rick Owens Shearling Jacket £3,158

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