Rio Uribe is embarking on a new creative role.
The fashion designer, who is returning to New York Fashion Week this season with his label Rio — formerly known as Gypsy Sport — has been appointed creative director at large of accessories company Chrome Industries.
Uribe is kicking off the appointment with a collection of four handbags that will debut during his New York Fashion Week show on Wednesday.
“As I was more interested in breaking into the accessories and handbag market, I thought that not only would [Chrome Industries] be a great teacher and partner for me, but also they just have an amazing history, they have an amazing heritage, they have a lot of street cred and I thought it would be a perfect partner for us,” Uribe said. “I use their bags, so I just thought it would be a cool partnership.”
Uribe’s Sodo Sling bag.
Courtesy of Chrome Industries
Uribe stated the partnership has been a year in the making. This is also the second time he’s accessorized his runway shows with Chrome’s bags.
The four handbags featured in Uribe’s debut collection are created in nylon and are designed with his signature “haturn” pattern. The collection’s Sodo Sling Bag is designed with Rio’s new logo.
“It’s been a learning process,” Uribe said about the partnership. “There’s been a bit of a learning curve because Gypsy Sport and now Rio has always been a very experimental and fashion-forward brand. Chrome, being as well known as it is, has been a little bit more — I don’t want to say traditional because they’re definitely not traditional — but, I think they’re a little bit more classic. There’s not as much real estate on a bag to be creative whereas on clothing you have your entire body to decorate. So, that has taught me a lot about restraint and making my choices a little more clean and palatable. That’s been fun to learn from them and I think I’m also pushing them a little in the fashion direction.”
A style from Uribe’s collection with Chrome Industries.
Courtesy of Chrome Industries
Uribe said the handbag range fits in with his upcoming Rio ready-to-wear collection as both are inspired by “wanderlust and travel.” He said the handbags are also part of the introduction of Rio’s new branding.
“It’s very exciting because I feel I’m starting over again, but this time I have a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge about fashion,” Uribe said about introducing Rio. “When I first started, I wouldn’t say I had no clue, but I really had no formal education and I didn’t know so much about the way the industry was working and what I wanted to specifically say with my designs. So, being able to have that chance all over again is amazing and also to be able to do it with partners who are very strong in their identity is even better.”
Uribe said one of his next initiatives as creative director of Chrome Industries will be a charitable Pride collection that will debut next year.
Uribe’s debut Chrome handbag collection will be available starting Wednesday at Chrome Industries’ website. The collection ranges in price from $55 to $150.
