The Inter-Views of Fashion: Wrath Arcane

The fashion world never sleeps- there is always something new and exciting to work on. This goes for Wrath Arcane designer Sean Bilovecky, who is constantly busy with his Midwest-based label. I was lucky to catch him for a quick interview about fall ‘08, Cleveland and what awaits the brand in the future.

Wrath Arcane is based in Cleveland. What encouraged your decision to keep the brand grounded in the Midwest?

Well, for starters, we all live here. Moving everyone and the business to a different city would be difficult and expensive. Cleveland has to be one of the cheapest cities in the country to live and work. In a weird way, I think all the bad things that have happened to the city both inform and inspire what we do. Our studio is in the middle of what used to be the second largest garment producing block(s) in the country, second only to New York. We’re surrounded by vacant factories that are a constant reminder that things need to change in the US.

Wrath Arcane is sold all over the United States and has become a global brand. Where do you think the better feedback comes from- the coasts or the Midwest? Domestic or international?

It’s actually pretty even. The line has been doing really well at retail everywhere. The only stores that are hesitant to pick up the line are those whose customer base prefers bright colors or flashy labels. Bling Bling is a little afraid of the WRATH ARCANES.

You always incorporate several unique design details into your garments. What elements did you repeat throughout the fall ‘08 line?

FALL 08 is where we started playing more with our “harness” idea. We started to develop smaller “harness like” details for some of the wovens. Also, it’s the first time we use waxed canvas, which will be a staple fabric for a long time to come. We also started bringing in more color, although SPRING 09 has much more, and FALL 09 is looking to continue our newfound appreciation for color and pattern.

What have your latest inspirations been?

For FALL 09 it’s a little set of flag and patriotism images from early days of the US. FALL 09 is a mix of Revolutionary War meets Grunge (hate that word) meets high school football.

What season are you currently working on for Wrath Arcane? What details can we expect to see?

We’re right in the middle of FALL 09. We make every pattern ourselves… so the process can be a little overwhelming sometimes. We have the outerwear done, and we’re currently working on new wovens. We’re also going to have boots, shoes, full fashion knits, and more accessories for FALL 09… all made in the US!!! It’s a ton of work, but we are obsessed with the idea of brand expansion.

What, if anything, has been the biggest change for you this year- good or bad?

Getting married two days ago… haha. We’re on the verge of some pretty exciting things. We’re talking to one of the “major” athletic brands about a possible “collaboration” that would see retail in SPRING 10. Also, we are beginning our big push into the European market for FALL 09. As with any company/brand, the economic is constantly on our minds, but we are pushing forward no matter what.

What’s the best thing about raising a fashion label in Cleveland? The toughest?

The best thing is the cost of doing business, the toughest thing is… well, it’s tough to grow a brand in any city.