ROBINSON BROWN (ROBINSON BROWN)

Robinson Brown is a senior studying Fashion & Business at Gallatin, and is a self-taught fashion designer who founded his own eponymous brand, Robinson Brown. Robinson’s designs are a representation of his life through fashion design, and his brand changes with his life experiences. His style is characterized by oversized apparel, especially denim. Robinson has always been interested in fashion and fnds it fascinating how clothing can alter oneself in diferent situations.

Robinson follows a conventional design approach, beginning with an idea and a mood board. His environment and his curiosity in religion serve as sources of inspiration for his works.

Robinson began producing clothing since he was young, and in 2019, when he moved to New York to attend NYU, he combined his knowledge of what was trendy with his sewing abilities to produce his debut collection, “High Life,” which was highly successful. In May 2023, Robinsonn’s ffth collection will be released.

What sparked your interest in fashion and what inspired you to start your own brand?

“I’ve always been interested in fashion. I’ve always been interested in the idea of expressing yourself through how you dress. I’ve always found it super fascinating how what you put on can position you in completely diferent places in your life. For example, if you go into a business meeting and wear a suit that’s nicely tailored, it might give you an advantage compared to someone who comes in wearing just a hoodie. This idea of being able to alter yourself through the way you dress is what initially sparked my interest in fashion.” recent collection, could you explain the creative direction that you went through?

In regards to your most

“My fourth collection was titled “She Loved Red” and the name for the collection stemmed from just experiences, relationships, and life I went through, regarding love and New York City. Obviously we’re very young college students — we’re just fguring out how the world works. This collection is inspired from the perspective of a young person who is in love. My signature and the kind of thing I’ve always focused on is jeans, and I wanted to do a pair of jeans for this collection. For the jeans, the idea for those was it was very focused on one person specifcally. The name I was called when

I frst met this girl was Rookie, and so the name kind of just ran from there. I collaborated with one of my friends, who’s an artist, on the front of the jeans for the skeleton painting.”

What advice would you give to aspiring fashion designers, particularly those studying at NYU or other universities?

What skills and traits do you think are essential for success in this competitive industry?

“To succeed in fashion at NYU, you need an entrepreneurial spirit. NYU lacks a fashion program, and it’s important to have the drive to sell your clothes to students, as that’s the only way to make an impact… In a class last fall, I found a group of students pursuing fashion. It wasn’t necessarily design; it was just people who wanted to be involved in the industry. There aren’t many people doing this at NYU, so you have to bring in others yourself… To succeed in fashion at NYU, it’s essential to use resources adjacent to fashion, like graphic design or business. NYU is a business-oriented school, so it’s an excellent place to develop those skills.”

Can you tell us about your design process?

How do you typically start a new collection or piece, and how do you bring your ideas to life?

“My design process, I would say, is very traditional. I start with an idea, and then I move on to the mood board process. I ask myself, ‘How am I going to turn this idea into a reality?’ From there, I turn my idea into reality through my craft, which is sewing and creating clothes. I’m inspired by what’s around me and life in general. Walking around in New York and seeing the diferent outfts that people wear is inspiring to me. I’m also inspired by religion, by the idea that people can come together as a mass and believe in one idea and further that idea over centuries and generations. The way that religion is positioned in society, with elaborate dress, such as cloaks, fascinates me. This is just part of who I am as