LUXE BRAND BY RYAN MASON

Hey loves! Today I have something special to share. Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to interview with a local shoelace designer- Ryan Mason. Beginning at the age of 20, now 22, this aspiring young entrepreneur is taking charge and turning his ideas into reality.Wanna hear more about him and his brand, keep reading!

Luxe Brand
LUXE BRAND is a luxury footwear accessory brand that specializes in the production of the world’s most luxurious lambskin shoelaces. All of our laces are handcrafted in the U.S. by our very own in house specialist. LUXE BRAND premium laces offer Rarity, Quality, and Luxury standards that defy the traditional synthetic lacing used in this era.

Now, let the Q&A portion begin !

Where does your artistic influence come from and when did you start designing?

I believe my artistic influence is something that I have always had. I have never been the person to try to fit in. I have always tried to be the standout in every feat that I have taken on. When I was a teenager, I would find myself attempting to take any existing item and trying to make it better in a sense of uniqueness. I could draw as well. Even with drawing, I would take concepts from multiple planes and piece them together in a way that was different. I feel like this characteristic along with passion has propelled me to where I am now.

What inspired you to begin your own brand?

It was destiny. I was the type of person to create my own style rather than going for what is trending. Its not every day that someone with a that eye comes around and is able to influence others with his works. So, therefore I took initiative to give the people something new.

How and why did you begin with laces?

The story behind the world’s most luxurious lambskin leather shoelaces is quite amazing. As a sophomore, I realized that time was definitely of the essence. At the time I had many ideas that were just thrown under the rug because of college football and other activities. I’ve always been the kid to try and get things on my own. I absolutely hated asking for money and at the time I was in need. So I thought to myself, why not start off simple. I felt as if I was pretty good and precise with hands on crafts and activities. During the Christmas break I took a trip home to the great city of Birmingham, AL. Immediately when I arrived I thought of simple ways that I could quickly make use of my creative style. Customizing shoes was at the top of the list. I didn’t want to just doodle on a shoe. I wanted to completely change the shoe in a way that would make it truly unique. I had a vision of replacing the panels of the shoe with exotic skins such as lizard, ostrich or even lambskin. I quickly grabbed a shoe and took my exacto knife and started cutting, only to find out how hard it would be to actually get into given the resources that I had. Afterwards, I asked myself what is something that I could do to make this shoe unique as well as everyone else’s around. Shoelace!! Flat leather shoelaces!! It is something so simple but can make a huge difference and potentially change the worlds prospective. From there, I got to work. I took it upon myself to research the tips (aglets), exotic leathers, and also the skills required for leather crafting. Before I knew it, with a lot of sweat and dedication, I had made my first pair of lambskin leather shoelaces.

How did you choose the materials?

Luxe Brand is a luxury brand that brings nothing less of the best to you. Therefore, the material that we work with has to be an exact representation of that. Lambskin was the ideal leather to use. It looks amazing, it feels amazing, and it is amazing.

Has it been difficult building your brand in the location you’re in?

Building a brand in the shoals area has been a great experience. The University of North Alabama has allowed me to connect with my professors on a personal level. In the past I have had troubles reaching out to like-minded people. UNA and the shoals area have been extremely supportive. I have sat in a meeting with well-established moguls and made connections that will last me a lifetime. The resources that the city has to offer are amazing. That’s not to say that other areas have more and better resource but I can only work with what God has placed in front of me.

What is it like working for yourself?

Working for myself has its perks. I have spent countless overtime hours without pay. I have worked until my fingertips went numb. But, at the end of the day, the reward is oh so sweet. There is noting like seeing your hard work come to reality. My greatest experiences come from people’s reactions when they see our luxury goods for the first time. It is priceless.

Who is your dream client?

My dream client would have to be Chris Brown.

Do you plan to expand? If so, what would be your next venture?

Luxe Brand is already expanding. Bracelets are on the way. It is only the beginning, so stay tuned to see what’s next.

What is the future vision of your company?

In the future, Luxe Brand will be amongst the fashion giants. We will be a complete brand of luxury apparel and accessories. What will distinguish us from everyone else, you ask? We don’t design for what is trending, we design for what is missing.

There you have it you guys! This was a fun interview and it was interesting getting to know a few things about Mr. Mason. If you can’t tell already, Ryan Mason has a lot in store and I’m positive that he’s going to do amazing things. Be sure to check him out and stay up to date with all of his new designs, as well as, the additions he’s adding to his website.

Ryan MasonLuxe Brand

http://www.luxe-brand.com

Instagram @official_luxe

Talk to you later,

Leah La’Rae ?