We got the chance to get an interview with Michael Ball, the founder and designer of Rock & Republic. Keep reading, this interview is really interesting and exclusive to DenimBlog. A huge thank you to Michael for this opportunity. You can also read the history of Rock & Republic by clicking here.
DB: What inspired you the most when creating your brand?
My goal is to highlight a woman’s silhouette, allowing her to express herself in a seductive and sexy way through fashion. I designed the first pair for my girlfriend because she was wearing jeans that, frankly, sucked. She challenged me to make a better pair, so I did and seven years later here we are.
DB: What has been your favorite memory/experience since R&R was founded?
Way too many to listit has truly been a blast.
DB: Do you have a favorite cut you have designed?
For men, it would have to be the Colburg which is an ultra low-rise skinnyI wear them every day. The Skinny Bitch for women is extremely sexy. We have been doing skinny jeans since the inception of the company.
DB: How many pairs of jeans do you own?
Too many.
DB: What R&R cut has been the most popular overall?
The Neil lowrise straight for men and the Berlin lowrise skinny for women continue to be tried and true favorites.
DB: How do you design your colorful and pretty back pockets? Do the ideas just come to you instantly?
I pull ideas from everything around me. I love strong colors that are bold and striking.
DB: What would you say is the best feature of an R&R jean? (fit, fabric, pocket etc)
Fit, quality and washalthough, fabric and pocket design are certainly at the top as well.
DB: Are there any new trends coming out next season that we should be keeping an eye out for?
Daring and extreme washes. As far as fit goes, the skinny will continue getting skinnier and tighter, which is where the denim legging comes in.
DB: The boyfriend jeans trend has been a huge hit this season; will we be seeing anymore of this trend from you?
We’ve done our own skinny rendition on the boyfriend that remains true to the rock aesthetic. Jeans should still fit well, even if they are baggy.
DB: We all love denim, but what is it that makes denim so important to you?
It’s like comfort foodÔǪsomething that you can turn to that makes you feel good no matter what.
DB: What inspiration goes into creating your washes?
We pride ourselves in being innovators. Our denim development team is always experimenting with different techniques.
DB: What makes your brand so different from the others out there?
Rock & Republic embodies a lifestyle. We aren’t just clothes you wearÔǪwe are who you want to be.
DB: R&R makes jeans, make up, shoes, clothing… what is next in line?
You’ll have to wait and see! The sky’s the limit.
DB: Which celeb wears R&R the best?
All of our celebrity fans wear them well, that’s the purpose of our fitsÔǪthey work on all body types. Recently though, I’ve liked seeing Beyonce in our clothes- she has great style.
DB: I own a lot of R&R jeans myself and often a lot of us have to hem them, are you going to be making a petites line for us shorter ladies out there?
Actually, we already do. We have five styles including the Skinny B@#$h lowrise, Sofie lowrise bootcut, Brie lowrise straight and Reese lowrise bootcut which are available in a 32” inseam. The Posey lowrise skinny is availability in a 29” inseam.