Ronin Soho

Fashion Interview

Question: Why is fashion important?

Ronin Soho: Fashion is the most obvious form of self-expression, creativity and individuality. It best reflects who you are, more so than your house (that not everyone visits) or your car (often left in the garage). Fashion is what you present as all the time. Furthermore, fashion can change stereotypes -- especially when you see ASAP Rocky Co-Chairing the MET Gala, or Pharell Williams playing a major role at Chanel and Louis Vuitton, or Virgil Abloh carving an indelible legacy -- or even SRK topping some polls at the MET Gala while in his 60s! Fashion transcends age, gender, ethnicity and other divisive factors.

Question: When did you first get into fashion?

Ronin Soho: When I first moved to Canada from the UK with nothing but 20 pounds, I would sleep at the bus station and shop at Vintage stores. As fate would have it, one of Canada's top models became romantically involved with me. She was always wearing luxury brands, and on an occasion, some of her colleagues mocked me for not being "in their league". I promised them that someday I'd be HIGHER than their league which they laughed off, at the time. So when 2 of my screenplays sold and I got lucrative contracts in art, public speaking and film that I parlayed into successful investments, I kept my vow. However, though I do wear the world's top brands, I wear them as a tribute to their heritage and commitment to excellence, NOT to prove a point to anyone. Moreover, I always punctuate my look with Spiritual bling from ancient Asian temples to match the material with the spiritual -- and mix & match futuristic fashion-forward ensembles of the West with costumes of our Asian ancestors from the East. And I can combine a Luxury brand from Paris with street-savvy brands like Tripp NYC as I have lived in both Paris and New York and prefer to be real and authentic instead of "hoity toity" and pretentious. I've always maintained that its who you are on the inside, not what you wear on the outside, that matters most.

Question: What brands do you wear the most?

Ronin Soho: Presently, I prefer the quiet luxury of Hermes and Bottega. They are not overtly flashy so you can wear them everywhere without feeling out of place or having the people you come across during day to day errands feel self-conscious. Yet, these brands personify the height of excellence and if I happen to meet someone from one of the industries I am connected with like Hollywood or fashion, they automatically know that my wardrobe places me in the top 1% league. Similarly, many of my suits are Issey Miyake as they are unique and arresting fusing both technology and tradition. And Miyake-san was arguably the most famous Asian designer on the world stage so it goes with my theme of Asian Pride. So there has to be a reason I wear something - beyond the brand. For example, I have several Louis Vuitton pieces but the ones I wear the most are Murakami collaborations as they stand out and also give props to Asian designers. Chanel accessories are the best when it comes to making a statement and I am Alpha enough to rock Chanel while still coming off as macho and masculine -- something very few men can pull off. Chanel hats, scarves, jewelry, belts and even some pants, shirts and jackets are unisex -- and while most of the bags are feminine, a Chanel Boston or backpack can be worn by both men and women -- even the Chanel Wallet on Chain is very efficient as it can also be worn like a Messenger bag and fit many cards as well as a phone. Similarly, the Dior Saddle has a cowboy element and can fit as much as an Hermes Kelly wallet or even a Chanel WOC and all of these can also be worn by men. For my laptop, I prefer a Gucci Backpack in tough-guy black leather and I often wear matching Gucci shoes and belt for impact. But sometimes to add some colour, I will wear red Dolce and Gabbana shoes as they have a playful motif or red bottom Louboutins that are scene-stealers. So fashion should be about creativity and conviction, not just commerce as far as I am concerned.

Question: Do you also wear non luxury brands?

Of course -- my favorite street brands are Tripp NYC by Daang Goodman but I also wear Killstar, Black Milk, Disturbia -- anything that's cool, funky and original. Though I know talented designers associated with major luxury brands, I also love to give new stylists a chance as its good karma to encourage aspiring talent that is waiting to be discovered. And whenever possible, I add something custom-made from the Ronin Soho Collection for a touch of uniqueness and singularity. My custom Ronin Soho gloves, bracelets and Chainmail accessories get compliments galore as they are entirely one-of-a-kind and bear my own face on the logo. What's most important is that I always clarify that fashion is not about how much you spend in terms of money, but how much thought, care and creativity you put into how you present yourself. A good physique and a great attitude are much more attractive than flashy logos!

Question: What kind of feedback do you get?

Ronin Soho: I'm very blessed that almost every day I have women paying me compliments on my look. That's obviously my target demographic. It's also a conversation starter where women can approach me to give props to my ensemble, outfit or accessory and then ask me if I am in the movie or fashion business from where the flirtation or friendship can begin. I also receive many compliments from professional male stylists in the world of fashion, hiphop and k-pop as they genuinely admire my unique fashion sense without any romantic overtures that I may get from women. But above all -- for me, fashion is never about what others think -- and so both men and women, both professionals and everyday people admire my guts to be who I am -- and to stand out in a crowd without seeking approval or permission from anyone.

All images and text are protected by copyright and cannot be re-published without permission. Brands featured are positive tributes per fair use.