INTERVIEW | Randi Oh

In case her profile in issue #9 wasn’t enough, venture further into the world of  Randi Oh, the talented designer and owner of Ora Bags. This girl’s  briliant approach to art, creation and life is bound to inspire you in an instant. Check out her customized masterpieces Ora Bags, along with many more snippets of her photoshoot with featured artist Lord Loxley and that pesky Lexa Naicu on our Flickr page. If you like this interview, make sure to come back for more. We are releasing one each week for the next six weeks, so don’t miss the chance to find out more about your favourite creative.

Do you consider yourself a multidisciplinary artist? How so? Can you elaborate on how ‘your people’s’ mind works and how you are able to switch between interests, inspirations, and processes? Do you feel that you successfully combine them on a regular basis?
Am I a multi disciplinary artist? By answering yes do I have to set up to the plate to defend myself in the fashion, art, craft, design argument? My educational route is quite unconventional in terms of seeking validity as an artist through the traditional recognition of awarded documentation. I have education and training in fine art, fashion design, textile arts, and a skilled trade. I value my education and experiences highly. As a result of my diverse schooling and experience I draw from a diverse range of skills and mediums. I never hesitate in my process; I use whatever skills are necessary to create, to bring my ideas to fruition. Some of my creations live in closets when they aren’t being worn, does this void my validity as an artist?

Why does anyone need to check out a Randi Oh design? What do you care the most about when designing? How does that translate into a finished piece?
I am very concerned with quality. I truly enjoy the process of everything I create. I release what I need to and drawn new energy from the process and the finished product. I take pride in my craftsmanship and attention to detail. I want to create things that I love and that are in turn truly loved and appreciated by others.

When simply walking your fine self under that red umbrella of yours, what do you think about?
I think a lot about colour. I am constantly admiring articles of clothing on people around me, when I see something I really like I think through the entire process of the fabric type, the fit, the construction – why that garment is beautiful. I think a lot about trees in this city, how we have left gaps in the pavement for them to poke through; I often visualize their roots reaching down into the ground.

How about when you buy groceries? Ever get distracted by colours, shapes, textures and so on, to the point where you have to go create something either out of those objects or inspired by them? Any snowboarding-oriented lettuce dresses to be spotted in your near future?
Constant inspiration overload. I absorb everything, especially colours. I carry a notebook and jot down ideas, I sketch. Yes, I often feel the urge to rush somewhere to research or begin a new idea based on something I was intensely drawn to or inspired by. I also often store ideas for later.

The spiritual – how does it tie into creation, particularly the type of creation you concern yourself with?
For me personally, my spirituality is a constant and natural part of my day to day life. This applies to my creative process in that I feel I become a part of the things I create, they are a part of me, infused with my energy.

The Future – how does the mind remain sane, when constantly projecting these desires which have to be accomplished through labourious tasks, with the hope that they will get done successfully and appreciated, in a time that may not come?
I haven’t totally figured this one out yet. I try to stay grounded. I am very self aware, I try to achieve a balance between pushing myself and working within realistic limits of what I am or am not capable of. When I do realize that I have set unrealistic goals, I’m not afraid to reassess and change.

The “Inner” becoming the “Outer”… Do your ideas match your final products by now, or is there still a gap? Are you trying to remedy or embrace such ‘phenomena’?
I am not afraid to let my ideas evolve during the process; in fact this always results in stronger finished products.

Designer vs. Maker: Differences, Similarities, Final Gratification…
I have moments where I dream of just simply being the designer, and directing someone else through the creation process. As my career in fashion evolves, this will become a reality. However, the process is so important to me, and working with my hands is essential to my creative fulfillment; I will always maintain this element in numerous ways.

Do you ever get discouraged by the difficulty of the process itself or does it take a bit more than that to intimidate you?
It takes way more than that to intimidate me. I am not afraid to ask for help. I am aware of my skill set and I am very resourceful and innovative. I really get off on the sense of accomplishment, the knowledge that I worked through something and grew.

Tell us a bit about knitting…
Ha, I am not destined to be a knitter; I don’t need another time consuming, sedentary habit that I will love.

What is your favourite fiber?
Wool, if I have to choose.

How can one get into your pants? The high waisted ones.
You mean the vintage wranglers that I tapered? The ones with the 7 inch zipper? The ones my friend Robin fondly refers to as my ‘mom jeans’?  I can barely get into them, I have to shimmy and squirm, but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Boxers or briefs?
Boxer briefs.

Where do you see yourself going as an artist and a business woman?
New York, London, Paris, Kamloops.

Happiness is a Warm Gun. Elaborate…
It was just fired. It can always be fired again. Enjoy the warmth.

Heard Tom Ford talk about this: “Getting to the top of the ladder, only to find that you’ve had the ladder up against the wrong wall”. Any thoughts on it? During your artistic or life experience? How do you go about moving the ladder once you make this discovery?
Life would be pretty boring if there was only one ladder and one wall. I don’t give much energy to regret; I enjoy this entire journey, wherever it takes me, and if I arrive somewhere I don’t like, I move.  It’s supposed to be hard; if life was easy we wouldn’t need to be strong or brave, we wouldn’t need to grow and change.

Talking about neglecting parts of yourself in favour of ‘your calling’…
You mean like showering? I can become very obsessive when I immerse myself in a project, like barely eating or sleeping or showering for a few days and then being incapable of articulating when I finally see another human. At present I strive for balance in all that I do, whereas in the past I was frequently guilty of pouring myself into something and forgetting to live outside of it, which has always resulted in total burnout following project completion. But the reward of the finished project always outweighs my fatigue and hunger. My friends on the other hand are not fans of this process; I’m working on having more fun.

Catharsis through fashion. Possible? Or irrelevant question?
Relevant. Fashion, art, craft – all of the stigma aside they are all about creation. Creation is all about energy, the binding and release of it. I put myself into everything I create and I release what I need to during the process.

Influences from other artforms  – what are some of yours?
I love photography; as a format of visual communication, the story telling, the implications of what we really see, the way others see the world – I am fascinated and inspired by artists who work in this medium, I want to learn how to use a camera.

Wanna describe the process of a single design?
The entire process, from concept to finished product, is my true fascination. In some cases I digest my ideas for a very long time before writing and sketching, which is always quickly followed by the hands-on process. And other times ideas come to be while handling materials and I simply act on the inspiration.

Do you want to be interesting, or have a different quality attached to your name + pieces?
I want to be recognized as an individual doing or creating something different and interesting, yes.

How do you select the medium of choice in relation to the finished product?
The medium and the finished product are always completely interrelated in my work.

The materials you work most often with…
I am predominantly drawn to textiles. My industrial/trade experience has significantly broadened my knowledge base of materials and processes to draw upon. I am fortunate to have some familiarity with industrial materials that I would otherwise not know about, and thus I am able to consider them as options for projects, and to use them in ways unconventional to their specific purpose.

What is Progress to you?
Continuous forward motion in the realm of personal growth and development of my skill set.

What is Passion?
I’m an Aries and a redhead, so passion is pretty much my middle name.

What is a Cliché ?
Something that sells well in malls everywhere?

Elders… Do you listen to them? Where does their input come in to affect your thinking?
I am very picky about who I seek out for advice. However, I am frequently pleasantly surprised by wisdom that is imparted to me by sources I would not have guessed. When I find someone I truly respect and admire, I am always honoured to receive their respect in return and very mindful of their advice.

I know you get help with your materials in terms of donations etc etc. People contributing to your work, while you’re contributing to theirs. How do you keep selective when working on a donations basis?
In reference to the donations I receive for Ora, I remain very selective; if I can’t use a particular garment I pass it on to a not-for-profit thrift store. I also actively seek out garments for Ora while scouring vintage shops for my own personal wardrobe as well.

Do you feel that the past is coming back to life through design?
Always. Duh. Just kidding, ha ha. I do believe that whether you are a fashion designer or an architect, researching your predecessors and their work is necessary to some degree. Knowledge of the past obviously inspires design in the present; as designers it is natural to draw on old ideas and to improve them.

Describe handcrafting vs. cranking out items in a factory – artistry, quality, special elements…
This is a big one. Environmental and ethical considerations must increasingly become a significant factor in the design and production processes. Can I make a difference as a designer by making things by hand from recycled materials? Yes, a little one. On a global scale this is a prominent question. I don’t have all the answers, just my own little effort. Recycle and buy local and support local artists as much as you can, get active and educated if you can, we can all make a small difference.

Bottom Line – is there a way to ever stop creativity from happening at all aspects of society?
nope

How does economy affect the meaning of the word creativity?
The present economy is obviously affecting creative individuals, but it doesn’t always have to be about money. I create because I have to, it is my calling and my passion, it’s not all about money.

What is a hipster?
I hate this term. Can you be stylish and contemporary without being social?

How is he/she directly related or unrelated to:
A hip?
Presumably unrelated.
Promoting a trend before everyone else?
Or jumping on a bandwagon? Looking just like everyone else? Regurgitating spoon-fed trends?
A source of inspiration?
Real people inspire me; real individuals who are truly unafraid to be themselves.

www.orabags.com

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