Meet Rudolph Graham II | Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rudolph Graham II and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rudolph, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to create a brand that would stand out from the rest, a brand that was designed for unique minds, a brand that made you feel like the wearers improvement had no limits and you can look good while being successful. The brand was designed to build confidence and defy the traditional designs of clothing. The primary focus was to build generational wealth for my family and leave my children with a legacy they can be proud of.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I 1st want to thank an old time friend. Unfortunately we’re no longer as close as we once were but I do owe him for pointing me in the right direction. His name is Charles Price aka Sindicate, long time high-school friend and musical producer/artist. We once shared a record label for roughly 10 yrs and in that time he helped initiate the production our 1st 3 dozen official label hoodies for the winter season. With the help of Victoria and Marcus Lane at our disposal the dream came to life.

These individuals were the inspiration I needed to persue my dream as a clothing line developer. For quite some time they were my clothing line producers. They didn’t show me all I know now on the creation side but they ignited my passion for the developmental side of the clothing and were the staple to my progression today. I am extremely greatful for meeting them and happy our paths crossed.

Since I could formulate a thought or fall into the depths of my imagination I have been a creator. I love anything and everything that can or may ignite the 5 senses. I have always been known to be very versatile in everything I do and find a sense of art in all we know. My designs though are unique, do not stem from other ideas or visions. I take pride in constantly reinventing the wheel and stepping out of traditional means of design. The difficulty in this type of art in, clothing is that everyone has entered this realm at one time or currently building. There are so many brands nowadays that the challenge lies in being the innovator, the newest thing. Financially this has been a struggle because I was not born into money nor was my childhood financially fitting.

Everything I am today, just like most stories is about defining the odds and doing the unthinkable. Consistency is the key to success as we know. I have come to the understanding that endurance wins and that has been on the forefront of my mind since my journey has began. I have to remind myself daily that “Rome wasn’t built overnight” I must trust the vision and put in the proper leg work to yield the results I seek. Because I have never had a mentor or someone to look up to I was forced to become the student and the teacher. Everyday has been an opportunity for growth and learning daily what it will take to help my business be great. I want the world to understand and acknowledge the evolution of my brand as it grows. I want people to feel a need/want to elevate themselves, build themselves up, become greater than they could have ever been before and know that there is a brand that speaks to that ascension.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day1:
Depending on the time of day I would 1st take my friend to a brunch eatery. We would either attend Snooze, First Watch or Biscuit Co. These are just a few of my favorites based on pricing, quality, atmosphere and local. After brunch I would take my friend to the broncos training camp facility and spend some time watching the off season prep. From there we would go to the Castletock outlet and do a bit of shopping. I wouldn’t cram too much in the 1st day of their visit only because there is much to do and see.

Day 2:
Would consist of another local brunch spot, preferably punchbowl social w/ a bit of day drinking and good food to soak it all up. Proactively afterwards I would arrange a trip out west to the bandimere speedway and checkout the local race community. From there we would visit the local reservoir, Soda East reservoir #2 and enjoy the lake front water vessels and locals. Maybe even grab some temporary fishing licenses and enjoy some recreational fishing. To close out the day we would visit a classic go to spot called Challengers. We would enjoy some zesty golden wings, fries, rootbeer barrels and a pitcher of beer. I have dubbed that to be called the classic combo.

Day 3:
Would be a day of music, arts state culture and cuisines. We would visit the taste of Fort Collins and indulge in food, drinks and live music. This has a been a traditional practice annually and has become an all day event that I would love for my friend to experience. This would include hours of entertainment, community interactions and plenty of food options. It would absolutely be a day to remember and a time to be had.

Day 4:
Is a day where I would encourage my friends inner concert goer persona. The start of the day would begin very suttle, allowing us to prepare for the eventful night ahead. We would’ve visited the memorable ball arena and watched an unforgettable performance by Brooklyns very own Nas. I have always been a fan of Nas and this will be the night we immerse ourselves in one of hip-hops most influential, reputable and iconic HipHop artists of all time.

Day 5: To close out his visit I would’ve of attempted to just discover more of Colorado. I would’ve taken him to every known outlet I know. From far north, south, east and west. We would bask in the Colorado sun and go from store to store to get him as many souvenirs as he could take back with him. I would want him to truly get a taste of the colorado retail scene so that he may grow to appreciate the states diversity.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife deserves acknowledgement and praise for how she stuck with me through my developmental processes. This has been a 5 to 6 year journey and I owe it all to her for her investments timely and financially. I don’t know how far I would be progressively if it wasn’t for her dedication to the vision. She and my children have been the inspiration the entire time and the goal still stands to leave them something worthy of continued growth. I’m proud of what has grown to be thus far and look forward to what blossoms.

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Image Credits
Rudolph Graham II