“Remember that story about Aerosmith?” began Chris Leba of R13 during a showroom appointment. “Steven Tyler talked about writing their first song in a dingy Boston apartment with his bandmates. It’s like he said, he can’t recreate that moment because he’s not the same person anymore. There’s a rawness to that.”
Leba’s contemplation of creativity began when he delved into Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being. Reading about rules made him reconsider the constraints he’s placed on his own work. “We have strict design codes here,” Leba said. “But Rubin made me realize rules can be limiting. We’ve confined ourselves with our own guidelines.”
It might seem contradictory for R13, known for its punk ethos, to have rules. But at the core of punk is authenticity, and Leba strives to keep his work genuine. Authenticity, in fashion, can be restrictive. To maintain authenticity, certain aesthetic standards must be followed. However, for fall, Leba decided to discard this rulebook.
He played with classic pieces, adding twists to make them cool without losing familiarity. Military-inspired flight jackets had exaggerated sleeves and knit gussets. Aviator bombers were lined with sherpa and had expanded shoulders and cropped waists. Classic leather coats were made in wool to mimic denim, and cable knit sweaters were overprinted with black for a leather-like texture. Leba also reimagined R13 classics, like flocked straight-leg jeans, a vibrant raspberry velvet suit, and a perfectly messy flannel shirt turned into a handkerchief skirt.
Rubin’s book emphasized the concept of a “beginner’s mind.” There’s purity in naivety when it comes to creativity. Leba, with fifteen years at R13, has gained extensive experience. Yet, he took Rubin’s message to heart, showing in this collection that experience and innovation can coexist harmoniously.
