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. Also, wearing the world's top brands -- especially uber limited editions is me associating with excellence and exclusivity. It also helps to shut up trolls and haters when your watch or shoes cost more than their per capita - depending on which nation they are from.

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 and due to what she called my "aristocratic English accent", she assumed I was rich. 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! 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'm really into exclusivity and ultra limited editions. My wallet is an extremely rare Hermes that also fits my phone, my Messenger Bag is the rarest Bottega -- a truly collector's item that you can no longer find in any store or online. My glasses are impossible to find Chanel with pearls and Swarovsky crystals. My Patek and Rolex watches get props even from watch collectors as they are collectables from an acclaimed Japanese jeweller. All of my ties are signature and a lot of my outfits come from Japan where I am blessed to have a home in the most coveted neighbourhood and where even luxury brands allocate special "Only in Japan" versions of their clothes. 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 as LV bags have become quite ubiquitous, I prefer the LV trunk which is very eye-catching and some Murakami collaborations as they 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.

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Question: What are your thoughts about the recent trade war and tariffs controversy about EU luxury goods being made in China?

Ronin Soho:  Anyone who is anyone has haters and critics -- mostly anonymous trolls that are jealous losers so I never pay attention to online gossip, rumors or slander. I have no first-hand knowledge about whether luxury bags are actually made in China which has become very industrialized of late. Personally I have never bought any luxury item from China -- everything is from a G7 Nation be it Japan or North America or France itself. In fact, I'm the only filmmaker ever to feature all real antiquities instead of props which proves my commitment to authenticity. No one who can actually afford to buy a luxury item would knowingly buy a fake -- unless they were duped or misled by a second-hand reseller or online -- which can happen - especially when you purchase limited edition items that are no longer available in stores. Recycling fashion is good for the environment but at times, it's understandably difficult to authenticate vintage items that were made before the proliferation of digital scans. So sometimes even celebrities can be cited for wearing non-authentic items that they bought unknowingly but they have more than enough real items to compensate for any faux pas. For me, there is a great karma and confidence in knowing I worked hard and overcame much struggle to the point where I can shuttle between airports and yet prove authenticity to any Customs agent -- from my Gucci and Dolce shoes to my Hermes, Chanel and Bottega bags to even my Versace underwear! Even my necklace, pendant and earrings are pure gold because I am allergic to fakes -- and this goes for everything I buy -- and every person I deal with. Be it a luxury item or an antique or a person, I want them to be genuine & if I find out something or someone is fake, I remove them from my life!