Wesley Stiller found a need and filled it. This designer started Cut By Wesley—a line of stylish, vintage skinny ties—because he wanted one for himself. Reconstructing old ties into new one-of-a-kinds, Stiller is giving guys (ladies, as well) a new way to accessorize. See his line of neckwear at the next RAW showcase in Los Angeles at the Angeleno on Friday, March 12th! 

How did you first get started?
About five years ago, I wanted a skinny tie because I thought they were cool and different. This was before skinny ties were back in style, so I couldn't find a place to buy one. I thought I'd just make my own. My mother (who saves everything) had a bunch of my grandfathers' ties in the basement, so I grabbed one of those and started cutting. I thought that was all it was going to take but the tie basically fell apart on me. I'm fairly crafty and I remembered being taught how to sew in my junior high home economics class, so I decided to start hand-stitching. I was too lazy to find a blue thread to match the tie; I grabbed the first spool I could find, white, from my mom's sewing kit and off I went. Stitching took forever! After I finished I decided that I didn't care what people were going to think. I invested hours into this thing, I'm wearing it. 

Tell us about your accessory line.
Each cut by Wesley Tie is a hand-sewn, one-of-a-kind original. We reconstruct once useless neck wear into freakin’ cool neck wear. Chicks dig' em on guys, chicks dig' em on themselves. Its a win-win. We only use vintage ties, some dated as far back as the 1930's, so throw a little history around your bad-self and let's get tied up!

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
I've always been into fashion. I've always experimented with different looks and styles growing up and noticed quickly that guys just don't have much with which to accessorize their wardrobe. The necktie has been always such a necessity. Its hardly ever a chosen fashion statement. 

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art? 
Probably more music than anything. I sometimes reference my line as the rock n' roll version of a necktie. Though, I do love films and theatre as well. 

From start to finish, explain your process. 
First thing is to get the original vintage tie, which I purchase from a supplier. I remove the old labels and attach my own, then measure the width I want to end up with and mark my guide lines. I chose the color thread and sew a straight stitch along the lines. Once that's done I take my ridiculously sharp scissors and cut (hence the name) the excess fabric off of the tie. The rest is basically aesthetic stitching. I sew up and down both sides with a basic zigzag stitch and then add whatever little extra random stitching on the inside of the tie. I name the tie, which usually involves some amazing stream of consciousness while admiring my new creation and finally top it off with a hang-tag. Done :)

What do you love most about what you do?
I love that I'm my own boss. I get to spend my time doing something artistic and fashionable. I'm in charge and my success or failure completely relies on me. 

When you're not designing, what do you enjoy doing? 
I'm an actor as well as writer and I enjoy both of those immensely. I do carpentry part-time. Also, I just joined Big Brothers Big Sisters and so far that's been a great experience. 

Why showcase at RAW?
My neighbor Jorie Bandauski showcased her jewelry line with RAW a few months ago and, ever since then, I've followed them and have been consistently impressed with the quality and originality of their artists. 

Are there any designers who strongly influence your work?
Not overwhelmingly, but I do like Tom Ford’s style. And apparently he makes a pretty good movie. Go, Tom. 

Any poignant moments in your career so far that you'd like to share? 
On the day of my launch party, I was on set for a 12 hour-day. Meanwhile, recruiting any friend that I could get to run errands and help get things setup. I was, for the most part, at the mercy of my friends. I was a nervous wreck trying to answer calls and texts in between takes and I literally arrived at the party minutes before doors opened. Miraculously, everything went off without a hitch and it was a great success!

Any previous accomplishments that you are most proud of?
At this point I'm proud of getting it off the ground. Can't wait for the next step. 

Any current rising stars within the genre that you would recommend we look out for?
Osypian T-shirts. 

Michele Genevieve, founder and designer for Hollywood Million Denim, promises a jean for every woman. See her denim line go down the RAW runway at the next showcase in Los Angeles on Friday, March 12th! 

Tell us about the Hollywood Million Denim clothing line.
My line, Hollywood Million Denim, is a premium denim company.  Most of my designs are fashion forward and a little rock n' roll. But, I also have my basics because I want to make sure we have something for everyone!  The fit of all of my cuts are amazing and look great on every body!

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
My inspiration really comes from looking at the styles of young Hollywood.  I really design with them in mind (like Kim Kardashian, Nicole Richie, etc.) 

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art? 
Sometimes. For example, I came up with my "Michele G" jean from a beautiful basket-weaved pot I saw in an art gallery.  The pockets are literally hand weaved. 

From start to finish, explain your process; what does it take to make a good pair of jeans?
I start with an idea, usually a detail on the jean that is unique to HMD.  Whether its the pocket design, the unique wash, the unique fabric, or some cool little detail.  Once I have that, then I decide on which cut I think would be a good fit, for example, Cigarette Pant, Skinny, Trouser, Boot-Cut, Cargo, Boyfriend, cut-off shorts, etc.   Then, I pick fabrics, decide on shredding or not, decide on hardware color, and the list goes on...

What sets a good pair of Hollywood Million Denim jeans apart from others? 
Every jean I create has an amazing fit!  Everyone tells me that they never looked better in a pair of jeans!  Whether they are a size 24 or a size 32, I hear that from everyone!  And almost all the fabric I choose is 98% Cotton/2% Spandex.  This allows the fabric to stretch where it needs to & lie flat where it doesn't, creating not only a fabulous fit, but also amazing comfort!  My jeans seriously make you feel like your wearing leggings, not jeans!

What do you love most about what you do?
I only design what I would love to wear!  So, suddenly, I have about 40 different styles of the coolest and hippest jeans to wear everyday!

When you're not designing clothes, what do you enjoy doing? 
I really believe in giving back.  That's why I created HMD's "Give Back. Give Thanks" campaign.  We partner with the consumer to give 5% to their favorite charity.  Each individual consumer gets to choose from over 200 charities on our site!

I also believe in staying fit, and I love to do yoga!  But, nothing's better than hanging out with my gorgeous son, Quinn.  He's my little buddy.

Are there any fashion designers, past or present, that strongly influence your work? 
I am a big fan of Alice & Olivia, Haute Hippie, Helmut Lang, Gryphon, Alexander Wang, Elizabeth & James, Twenty8Twelve, so everything I design is for the woman who wears these brands too.

Any poignant moments you'd like to share?
There have been ALOT of late, late nights!  I have literally done everything myself without the help of even an assistant, (until recently).  But when Saks Fifth Avenue wrote my line, I have to say, it was all worth it! And, when X17online.com posted a picture of Kim Kardashian and she was wearing my Michele G jean!

Any previous shows/accomplishments that you are most proud of? 
My proudest moment was when the people from OC Style Week called me to tell me they named me "Emerging Designer of the Year" and I hadn't even heard of OC Style Week.  They put on an amazing runway show!  I literally cried when the models came out wearing my jeans!

Why showcase at RAW? 
I think RAW is a fabulous concept for all artists, whether it be designing clothes, or hair!  What a great way to network in the industry!  And I love how RAW invites investors to the shows, so hopefully I find a great investor!

Mike Asadourian, the sole creator for Safari Brand, talks to RAW about the making of his t-shirt line. See his work walk down the RAW runway in Santa Monica at the next showcase on Thursday, March 4th!  

How did Safari Brand first start? 
There was no intention to start a clothing line, at first. I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember. As I grew older, fashion became more important in my life and I wanted to join the community as a designer. I painted on a t-shirt, wore it out, caught the attention of a store owner, and that sparked the birth of Safari Brand.

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Music has had a great influence on our line. Just to name a few, our “I Run This Town” shirt was obviously an ode to Jay-Z’s “Run This Town” hit. We also made a “Can’t Tell Me Nothin'” design in honor of Kanye West’s track. 

But I’d like to say my main inspiration has been Life. The ups & downs you experience through your lifetime is a great exercise for the mind and body. Because the brand is mainly hand-painted designs, it becomes a full-time artist-driven job. So, that means painting all day. You can grab your inspirations from anywhere … a bad break-up, a sunny day at the beach, your neighbor's big butt, etc. 

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art? How? 
Yes, there have been several occasions where I embrace another artist’s piece so much that I get the need to recreate it in my own ways. I think there is an infinite amount of talent out there, and you can’t deny that.  

One design we currently make, from our Impressionist Collection, is inspired by the Rorschach Test, used by psychologists. 

What is involved in the making of your shirts?  
Safari Brand works two ways. We will put together a collection of shirts on our website, where customers can purchase what they see. Or you can request your own design and we will make it for you.  The shirts we put up on the website always have a theme. So, we take that theme and build a collection around it. Could be a specific color theme or an idea we want to express through the t-shirts. The custom shirts are made with the combination of the customer’s ideas and our design techniques. So, the process has become very simple after seven years of making shirts. It’s all improvised on the shirt.  

What do you love most about what you do?
I don’t have to smell my co-workers armpits. No, I tend to keep a lot of my emotions to myself, so this has been a great way to express them. When I have something to say, I don’t have to actually talk, I just paint it on a t-shirt. It’s almost as relaxing as golf. I take that back, golf has been disgusting lately. Anyways, back to what I love. I like making people feel good, so when somebody sends me an e-mail saying how much they love their Safari Brand shirt, it tickles my pickle. It doesn’t actually tickle my pickle, I just wanted to say that cause it sounds cool! 

When you're not designing t-shirts, what do you enjoy doing.
I like hanging out with Ivana Trump. I get great inspiration from food, so I love dining at those superstar-chef restaurants that serve dishes you can’t get anywhere else. Those people rock! They make what they want, list their own prices, and never have to worry about competition, cause nobody else can do what they do. And they make some delicious food! I like flying in airplanes too, gives you a better perspective of what the world we know of really means ... nothing.  

 Why showcase at RAW?
Because COOKED sucks! (Kidding). It will actually be our first showcase, so I am pretty excited. I attended a recent RAW show and I like the way it all comes together. The idea seems fresh and should be more popular in LA.  

Any previous shows/accomplishments that you are most proud of?
The coolest thing that happened once, was I had two “beefing” musicians wearing a Safari Brand shirt. Arcangel, a singer from Puerto Rico made a YouTube video, wearing my shirt, dissing an artist from Dominican Republic , named Lapiz. Lapiz replied with a YouTube video, wearing my shirt, dissing Arcangel. They got over a million views! 

At just 21 years old, Jami Larin, RAW Fashion Designer, has already created a clothing line she can be proud of and is well on her way. She talks to RAW about her passion for the art. RSVP to see all her work pay off when it's sent down our runway on Thursday, February 25th! 

Tell us about your background in fashion.
My interest in fashion definitely started when I was a little gal in my pull ups watching my Lola ('grandma' in Tagalog) sew on her sewing machine. I come from a rad, big, and loud Filipino family that always supported my passion for fashion/art. My mom and dad were not the typical Filipino parents that tried to force me into nursing. They knew I would be doing something involved with art. I want to make people feel beautiful. So, other than the brief month when I wanted to become a plastic surgeon, I've always planned to become a fashion designer. 

From where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Ahh! So many things inspire me! That’s like asking someone what their favorite food is; nobody ever just has one.

To name a few: music, flowers, movies, the way my food is served, art, a box of crayons, hairstyles ... there are so many different places I get inspiration from. But when I am having a creativity block, I usually solve it by turning on some of my favorite music (usually Gogol Bordello, but not always) and dancing until I get something in my head.  

Do you engage in, or draw inspiration from, any other forms of art?
I doodle a lot, usually abstract drawings. I have always loved drawing. Whenever I am taking notes in class, bored in the dentist office, and just about anytime I have paper,  I doodle. My doodles sometimes inspires my designs. Actually my Math syllabus inspired one of the garments I am showcasing.  

From start to finish, explain your process.
I start off by making sure I have eaten something, because if the belly is not happy, there's no way in hell I'm gonna design! Then I go about my day. I can’t force anything out. It just pops up randomly. But all I need is one idea to get the wheels turning. Then, I draw my designs out, though my drawings and end garments never turn out the same. I always make a few changes while I am designing, especially when I am picking out fabric! Fabric stores love me because I over-buy fabrics. If I buy seven different types of fabric, I only end up using three. Then, I construct my garment. Once I have my basic piece then the fun begins. I love to add embellishments. From bottle caps to plastic flower petals I love random décor!

What sort of techniques do you most like working with?
I love embellishing fabric, creating different textures and different looks to different fabrics. For example, I cut hundreds of little ribbon petals and sewed them onto the tail of my garment. It’s very time consuming, but I love it. Crazy right?!

Are there any fashion designers who strongly influence your work?
The awesome Betsey Johnson and Rad Emilio Pucci!  

Are there any specific reoccurring themes or subjects that you explore most in your work? 
I always give off a fantastical, rock and roll, or 50’s vibe to my clothing.   

What do you love most about what you do?
I love how my little idea can turn into a walking piece of art. I know everyone is not gonna like it (of course, I'm hoping they do), but as long as one person digs it, then I am totally happy. 

When you aren't designing clothes, how do you like to spend your time? 
I LOVE movie nights, dancing at rad shows, and basically anything fun with my besties!

Why showcase at RAW? 
Why not?! I am so lucky that RAW chose to showcase my stuff! I love the fact that RAW showcases all forms of art. RAW is RAD and I am honored to be apart of one of their shows!