Artist Spotlight: RASHHIIID
Launched only a year ago, Rachel Maguire’s brand RASHHIIID has already made an international splash. As seen on Doja Cat, Ariana Grande, Rosalia, Addison Rae and Vanessa Hudgens (just to name a few), Rachel finds herself being featured in DAZED, her followers growing by the thousand and her work splashed across the internet.
Speaking to District from her studio in her parent’s house, Rachel details her journey as a creative, her interactions with influencers and how she found success.
Q: Everyone’s talking about your commission for Doja Cat – is there anything from that collaboration that you wish people would talk about more?
“Hmm, I need to think about this, no one has asked that. Let me start by saying that my screensaver used to be a picture of me and my boyfriend – now it’s a secret photo Doja sent me wearing my pink hat. I look at it every day it’s an amazing reminder. because it helps me process that this is my new life.”
“What I’m saying is I don’t think I’ve expressed enough how much it means to me that she was inspired by my work, and wanted me to make something for her. It was one of the first times that I really sat down and was genuinely proud of myself. She was texting me in capital letters, saying “I HATE YOU I NEED MORE, These hats are the best thing I own!”.”
“No one had ever been that enthusiastic about my work. And this was someone I’ve admired for years… I’ll try not to say obsessed. I would listen to her music the whole way through my final year of college. I called a piece in my final collection, the “Doja” jacket – and there she was, freaking out over my hats? I’ve never felt something like it. It lit my soul up.
Q: What is it like suddenly getting so much recognition at home? Are you feeling more pressure or are you enjoying being featured in the Irish and international media?
“I am enjoying it, of course. My brain is like a treadmill so I don’t get to focus on it too much, there are too many day-to-day tasks that need doing.”
“I always buy copies of magazines my pieces are featured in and I collect them, but I don’t really slow down at that moment to celebrate. I’ve heard I should though, maybe soon.”
My screensaver used to be a picture of me and my boyfriend – now it’s a secret photo Doja sent me wearing my pink hat.
RASHHIIID
Q: Most people know RASHHIIID through your Y2K-esque faux fur pieces. What things or people influence your work?
“That’s difficult – I’m not someone that is inspired by a specific era or specific person. I don’t have any moodboards or things like that. I’m very much inspired by everything I see in real life more so than on social media, that’s why travel is huge for me.”
“If I see something I like in person it’s going to have much more of an impact and might be something I later adopt into my designs or personal style. Even when you say “Y2K” that doesn’t mean much to me.”
Q: What has your journey been like as a creative? Do you see yourself moving away from Ireland?
“It’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs but I am doing what I love so it’s all worthwhile. I’m happy out where I am for the moment and the fewer overheads the better.
“I love supporting Irish business, and I love Ireland. Having a business here has made me strangely more…patriotic I think. I’m much more conscious of where I spend my money and who I spend it with.”
Q: What’s your favourite commission you’ve done so far?
“It’s hard to pick a favourite piece, but I enjoy very much connecting with the customers. I’ve sold pieces to people all over the world – today I sold leg warmers to someone in Saudi Arabia. I can’t help but want to know more about each customer, who they are, how they found me or why they like my work. Seeing how each person wears a hat differently or knowing there’s someone in South Korea walking the streets in my designs. Those are the things that excite me.”
I’ve sold pieces to people all over the world – today I sold leg warmers to someone in Saudi Arabia. I can’t help but want to know more about each customer, who they are, how they found me or why they like my work.
RASHHIIID
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting in fashion or business?
“You just have to find a place within yourself where you feel very confident about your work. No one will take your work as seriously as you and no one’s going to care as much as you.”
“You need to put your own value on your work and not let someone else messing you around affect that. I still get knots in my stomach when it comes to people doing me dirty – But I try to not let one thing bring me down, it might for a few minutes, or hours sometimes, but you have to train yourself to keep it pushing.”
“Everything you see on my feed, there are probably five things that didn’t come to fruition, that’s something people might not realise. So you need to find that patience and consistency from within.”
To browse Rachel’s designs for RASHHIIID, click here.
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