RESPECT. Interview: Ron Louis on His Brand Phera

A post shared by Ron Louis (@ron_louis) on Mar 9, 2018 at 3:17pm PST

You might have seen the designer’s apparels everywhere! For example, Chicago’s artist, Valee, who recently got signed to G.O.O.D. Music with Pusha T, has been wearing the Phera brand. He is known as Ron Louis, a fashion designer, from Chicago. With a little music background, he ended up sewing and selling custom garments. I caught up with Ron and discussed how he came up with his company name, Phera, how he link with Valee, what is next for the young designer and much more.

A post shared by Ron Louis (@ron_louis) on Feb 1, 2018 at 6:26pm PST

RESPECT.: How did you come up with the name Phera? What does the brand behind it mean?

Phera came from me misspelling the word fear one day and it stood out to me. The movement and message behind Phera is to be fearless and pursue whatever it is you truly want to do. Never box yourself into anything you don’t want to do.

RESPECT.: What specific piece you made is your favorite? Why?

It’s hard to pick! I recently made a checkered crop puffer vest for women that’s has raw edges and construction that’s just gangsta to me.

RESPECT.: What do you want people to take away from your brand?

You can do whatever you put your mind to. Don’t let them box you in. You can make or do what you are passionate about it by having good intentions to push the world forward.

RESPECT.: Tell us step by step on how you would design a specific Phera product.

I start off with sound and sight. I have to listen or see something that inspires me. It can be a bell in a song or the color or a home that sparks an idea. Texture comes after one or sometimes both senses are stimulated; and I begin to pick the fabric for a specific garment. I may begin to sketch or work directly on the body of who I see the garment on test models. I cut manipulate patterns, sew, then package.

RESPECT.: Who have you worked with that loves your brand and who is a repeated customer?

Tons of people! I have a huge support system in Chicago and other places from everyday people to celebs.

A post shared by Ron Louis (@ron_louis) on Nov 15, 2017 at 11:58am PST

Valee is like family. We have a lot of mutual friends and family that know each other from my camp to his camp; so now, we are one big family and support group. Toinne, who is a part of LVTR, put me on to his music years ago. Not too many people knew Valee made music then because he didn’t really advertise it. He has a song called “Grandma House” that has a sequence of bars that’s like a run on sentence like he did on “two 16’s” that really intrigued me. I wasn’t sure if I liked it at the time because by the 15th play, I knew he was great.

RESPECT.: Do you think Chicago is next with music and fashion? Describe.

Chicago feels good right now with art period. We have been slowly building a dope community here that’s probably been here forever! Now more people are involved and art is trendy right now. Music been a big deal here; we just come in waves. I feel more unity that I hope continues for a long time.

RESPECT.: Who is someone you want to collaborate with as far as styling an artist? Why?

I’m not too sure. I enjoy just working with my friends and them wearing my stuff sometimes. If I had to pick, it would be Slick Woods. Slick, who models for Fenty by Rihanna, got the perfect amount of a “hood couture” feel I be going for, she’s dope!

RESPECT.: How did you end up editing videos? Do you have a background of music?

I actually have no real skills in editing. I get help from my friend Jean Lamont; who is an actual film director, and Yosef Montgomery, who is an editor. I’m just good at directing things but I don’t have any “technical schooling.” Honestly I only started to do them for Goody, who’s a friend of mines, because we are impulsive and like to get things done right then and there when the energy is right.

Me and Goody used to run a music blog called “Forever Genesis” with a few friends of ours in high school; and my music network started there. We started around the time Dreezy, King Louie, Chief Keef, Chance The Rapper and Save Money started buzzing and beginning.

RESPECT.: What happened with the blog “Forever Genesis?” Why didn’t you all make it as big?

We eventually all stopped working together. We were young and thought we knew it all and that is when the ego started to set in. We were like 16 and 17 years old in the clubs because of our blog doing things most teenagers wasn’t exposed to yet; so it got to our heads a little bit. I also think it was just a stepping stone for all of us to go out and do our own thing. We still work together on some things.

RESPECT.: What is some advice you can give to fashion designers, who are on the same path as you, to get to where they want to be?

To stay the course and don’t be afraid to be different. It’s a ton of lanes in fashion, you just have to find your place and execute consistently. Work hard and remember it’s a competitive field! When you’re sleeping, someone else is working to surpass you.

RESPECT.: Which fashion designer you look to up to? Why?

I look up to a ton of designers but Alexander Wang, and other local designers in Chicago. I’m really into the underground streetwear movement right now.

RESPECT.: What is your definition of RESPECT.?

Love and acceptance

RESPECT.: Could we get a sneak peek of what you are working on? A RESPECT. Sneak peek?

I’m working on joggers right now for Phera that’s all I can say. You heard it here first!

A post shared by Ron Louis (@ron_louis) on Oct 26, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

I’m going to continue to drop quality clothing items and give experiences with them. Pop up here and there with some visual work and art maybe a gallery soon who knows? That’s what being an artist is about …Freedom

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