The Inter-views of Fashion: Wrath Against the Machine

Happy New Year Indies. I thought I’d get the year off to a good start with and interview. Enjoysies.

2007 was a great year for the boys of Wrath Arcane. They’re label has expanded from a tee shirt heavy line to a full collection of mens jeans, jackets, dress shirts and hoodies. In six months they’re distribution jumped leaps and bounds with Wrath gear now available in 34 stores in cities across the world. And in October the label received some love from Ian and the Gen Art crew when they were featured in their Chicago show. All an all it’s been a fast journey for the two year old company (they enter their terrible two’s on January 3rd) and designer team Brian O’neill and Sean Bilovecky.

We had a quick second to pick Brian’s brain on why big labels are fucked and what’s next for Wrath Arcane.
FI: So Brian, how long have you been designing?

Brian: I have only been involved in designing seriously for about two years, but I have been in the retail business with my own stores for about eight years. Sean Bilovecky is the primary designer with all the skills to bring Wrath arcane to life, he has been designing for about ten years.

FI: Becoming a success designer takes a lot of cojones and a serious dedication to the craft. What made you start designing?

Brian: I believe that it was just our time to try and make some sort of impact in the industry. Instead of trying to do it through other people’s voices (other collection) we want to be able to speak for ourselves through our own collection.

FI: Your label is sick (yes I occasionally use sick as ad adjective). I’m addicted to it and often say that if I was to create a line (aka if I could ever pull myself away from a computer) I’d want a collection with a similar aesthetic to yours. Who are you making this clothing for?

Brian: Our customer is anyone that conscious of what they are wearing. This is because we are conscious of where our products are made (USA) and how the products we make and sell will effect our (America, Ohio, Cleveland) economic growth and sustainability.

FI: What are your goals of 2008?

Brian: Our goals are the same as anyone else. We want to grow our business and try to formulate a solid structure so we can last in this crazy industry.

FI: One final question. Target has Go! International. Unqlo has Guest Designers. H&M has the big hitters. If you could choose any big retailer or brand to collabo with who would it be. Are “Big Labels” really fucked or are you just waiting for the right offer. (yes, I’m asking if your gonna be a sellout)

Brian: I think I would choose going into another career before I collaborated with a corporate giant (Big Label) that is destroying our economy. Sorry. Does that sort of explain Big Labels are Fucked as well.

For more from the indie radicals of Wrath Arcane visit them at WrathArcane.com

Popularity: 5% [?]