We were lucky to catch up with Alex Ruffin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Alex thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always had a knack for art since i was a child but I didn’t take it super serious until after my mother passed away in 2013. I spent all of my time filling sketch pads, painting canvases + clothes and by 2016 i was designing for Anderson .Paak. Once i saw people were willing to pay me for my work (that I thoroughly enjoyed making might i add) it was over. I quit my last job at Sprint in 2019 and haven’t looked back since.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My real name is Alex Ruffin. My alias is ‘a THRIFTED temple’. As a certain Boondocks character would say “It’s like A Tribe Called Quest! Ya say the whole thing!”. I’ve been immersed in art ever since i could remember. I was born August 24th 1993 in Stamford, CT on the Westside of town. I lived in the projects from the ages of four to eight years old and i had a really shy temperament. So when I wasn’t in school/playing sports, I spent a lot of my time indoors where I was constantly drawing, watching cartoons/movies, playing video games and listening to music. This was something that ended up following me into my adult years as I currently draw inspiration from the entertainment I grew up on.

My hometown is a 45 minute train ride away from NYC and one hour away from the original Starter headquarters. I’m known back home for a multitude of different things. Some people know me as a rapper, a painter, a sewer/fashion designer, when in reality, I’m a jack of all trades. I’ve been fortunate enough to design for the likes of Anderson .Paak, D.R.A.M, Iman Shumpert, Rosario Dawson, Smino, Thundercat, Lil Yachty, Westside Gunn and Jazz Chisholm Jr over the span of my career. I’ve also collaborated with STARZ network on behalf of BMF last year. This is only the beginning!

I’m currently working on a concept I thought of in 2018, but didn’t bring into fruition until October of 2022 called ‘Hometown Hero’. This concept revolves around me reworking two vintage Starter jackets from the same city/state and putting them together. It hasn’t been a full three years yet since I’ve brought this idea to life, but my impact has been massive. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Lil Yachty and Westside Gunn in my work over the last 2 years, and Jazz Chisholm Jr going viral wearing my custom NYC jacket at Madison Square Garden in November of 2024.

As a self taught sewer / designer from a small town in CT, this project is definitely one of my greatest feats. I take so much pride in my craft knowing the Starter brand was made in the same state I was born in. This collection is how I look to leave my mark on the world and represent my hometown by bridging my love for sports and fashion together. My craft feels like a spiritual practice to me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I graduated high school and started college in 2011, My mother was diagnosed with cancer. I was 18 at the time, and dropped out of school and quit my job to take care of her. She passed away a few weeks after her 49th birthday in 2013 and my father passed away a few years later at the age of 51. Experiencing all of this at such a young age I’ve learned how to transmute my pain and hardships into something beautiful that they’d both be proud of. As I continue to live not only for myself, but for them I will stop at nothing to make my dreams come true.

How did you build your audience on social media?

This may sound super cliche but trust the process. I started initially uploading my music on my social media platforms, which then transitioned into my paintings and eventually into my custom jackets. Your tribe will find you as long as you stay consistent and true to whatever it is that you do. When I first started, I wasn’t doing it with the intention of making money. I genuinely loved what I was doing first, then the money and followers came after the fact. Just make sure you’re leading with love before anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.athriftedtemple.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/athriftedtemple
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/athriftedtemple
• Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/alexruffin

Image Credits

@nyknicks
@buffalobills