We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Re’Nae D. . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Re’Nae below.

Re’Nae , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?

I have been a fashion lover since 99″ (that’s when I was born). I learned to sew when I was 10. My first sewing project was for Kwanza Kids Cultural Challenge (KKCC) through the boys and girls club. Our assigned country was Finland, and one of the parents helping with the project taught me the basics of sewing and using a machine as well as hand sewing. I did the basics and she added the details. It was so fun working on the costumes and I just knew this would be something I had to work on. Unfortunately, I did not have the support I needed to be able to consistently practice. I did have many opportunities to stay in the mix of fashion throughout high school, but I didn’t get back into sewing for real until college. I worked in the costume shop. I went from seamstress to costume designer throughout those four years. I was able to pick up new skills with sewing, costume designing, backstage wardrobe, and other relevant tasks. When I started college, I was more consistent and really getting into and staying into fashion. Even when was no longer full-time in the costume shop, I volunteered at Rescued Treasures Thrift Store, and I was on their creative marketing team as well as in-store volunteering. I and a friend of mine put together a fashion show for Rescued Treasures and used the fashion show to auction off different pieces that were presented on the runway. I put on three fashion shows at DePauw together, and my final project was my first magazine. And now we’re here.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Royal Chic Industries is a brand I started when I was a youngin’. I went through a ton of name changes but I finalized it as Royal Chic Industries. I participated in my first fashion show in 5th grade. My middle school KIPP Strive would put on a fashion show every year. We were the first ones at the school to do so, and I participated in each fashion show after that. Once I entered high school, I assisted with the show for two more years after that. I not only modeled, but I also helped with wardrobe and styling. When I came back to help, I served as a model coach for the kids at the school. In college, I hit the ground running and was hired in the costume shop. I have always admired people’s style and it really helped me to expand my idea of fashion and look at fashion from many perspectives. Now, I provide all sorts of services and a few products. My services include designing custom pieces, styling, wardrobe/behind-the-scenes costuming, closet organizing, and alterations. As I build my brand, I want to get in with a manufacturer. I can not make the same thing twice. I always end up making similar things but they’re slightly different. And that’s what makes it unique. However, a manufacturer can make sure I have at least one outfit in each size. My products include Royal Chic t-shirts in multiple designs.
I also have a published magazine. I am working on issue 3 as we speak. It is set to release in March 2024. The goal is to publish two magazines a year. The magazine is meant to showcase real people in real life talking about real things. Royal Chic Industries is Changing the World Through Fashion. Royal Chic represents the unrepresented. I want to give Black and POC folks a voice within this white-washed society. I am so proud of my magazine because it is a creative outlet for people to express themselves, promote their brands, and overall bring joy to the community. I didn’t know that this magazine would really be a hit. When I started the magazine, I just needed a final project. However, I saw how impactful the message was and I felt like this was an old school but effective way to get people to see the truth within our society and how fashion really is psychology.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to Change the World Through Fashion. I’ve always considered myself a fashion psychologist. Fashion and psychology go hand in hand. One thing about the fashion industry is that it dictates how we feel about ourselves. Of course when the standard of beauty is white skinny blonde, anyone outside of that descriptor will do anything they can to come close to that image. Royal Chic Industries is about representing the unrepresented. The unrepresented includes Black and POC folk, queer folk, plus-size folk, dark skin folk, and anyone that’s not a cis-gendered white male or female. My goal is to bring real life to the media. Media paints a fantasy, but it is important that we know what reality is, and that reality is just as beautiful and appealing as current media representations. This is a part of the reason I do not make the same thing twice. Aside from needing a manufacturer, I think it is good to have unique pieces that are made for a specific person. Even if I am designing for a fashion show, I like to see my models in person so I can get a feel of their personality and physic. This makes the designs come to life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Most people do things for money. Although money is a great thing to have, I find myself doing this for the love of fashion. I’m not a greedy person, and sometimes my kindness takes a toll on me because I will do projects for free or participate in projects that I have to pay for but do not really get much back in return. I do not do this for the attention of being famous or popular but for the attention of showcasing real people being displayed in beautiful frames. I use the word beautiful a lot because people who are not represented in media are not considered beautiful or desirable. I want people to see that they can use me as a safe space and that my brand is for the progression of Black and POC people as well as all marginalized communities. The reward is being able to be a revolution for my community and allied communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itrsroyalchic.com
• Instagram: its_royalchic
• Facebook: its_royalchic
• Youtube: Royal Chic Industries

Image Credits
Tyler Reese Photography- Runway images Bee Visuals- Photo of me Dieachy Tree Productions- Made by Royalty T-Shirts AA Visuals- Changing the World Through Fashion shirt Blue Crisis Images- Model with Brown dress