Designs By rian Influenced By Art

Rian Berry, owner of rian, and his wife Julie Berry came up with the brand concept over coffee at a local diner five years ago. "We still have the napkin with original sketches on it. I am a painter, so my whole background is in art. The initial goal was to create bags that featured my paintings on them. Now, while our designs have evolved since those first bags, all my designs are still influenced by art. In fact, some of our bags feature prints of my paintings on the liners. The exclusive use of our prints is one of the main elements that set us apart from other labels.", says Rian.

Where do you draw inspiration for your products?

I find that a lot of my inspiration comes from travel..By putting myself out there and experiencing different things I always seem to find something to work from. Sometimes it is the obvious, like finding a great textile or leather. But other times it is more abstract. For example, this season I took color inspiration from this old phone booth near our loft in the city.

What products have been your best sellers?

Our best selling line has been the "Breaks" line. The "Breaks" is a region in Eastern Oregon that has a windblown, distressed landscape. It is where I grew up. My family owns an old farm out there. That particular line features distressed oil leathers and brushed steel antique hardware. It has a very weathered and aged feel to it.  I think the antique and distressed finishes give the line a very versatile aesthetic, which led to the overall popularity of the line. 
 
What are your future plans for rian?

We are continuing to grow the brand by offering more shapes and materials options.  We continue to look for interesting leathers and textiles that are not common on the market. The influence of art and the use of progressive materials give the line a distinct feel and we want to stay true to that. It is our own. We are also working on a women's line for fall/winter 2009. We may branch out into other products. Eventually we want rian to be a full lifestyle brand. But at present, our focus is on accessories.

Visit www.rianmens.com