Today we’d like to introduce you to Red Moth.
Hi Red, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Since I was a kid, I had always been interested in visual art. I’m primarily self-taught, though I did take some museum art classes in my teens.
Though at the time, it was more of a hobby, I took it seriously and would practice everyday.
A Japanese family friend who was a like an aunt shared with me her culture. She would get all dressed up in traditional Japanese kimonos for special occasions. And it was so beautiful to see her in them. It was definitely
I’d also create little comics staring different exaggerated versions of my friends.
All of those seemingly unrelated things built up on each other, slowly shaping the work I do now.
Which brings me to now.
Early 2019 I started experimenting, creating a haori (kimono jacket) with a western twist.
As a way to fuse fashion and art together. And a way to pay respect to both Eastern and Western culture.
After seeing the Austin art scene from afar, I stopped being a weenie and joined it in mid-2019.
I’m immensely thankful to all the other creatives I’ve met, the art community is very supportive.
Got featured in a local art magazine. Which led to having my first fashion show at Cheer up Charlies in late 2019. Then the pandemic hit, and I had to keep pushing to do better in my work.
From there, I’ve just kept ongoing.
It’s been a lot of practice and still will continue to be in the future.
In my life, art has been a hobby, an outlet, an emotional crutch, a way to connect to people, and a way to collate the good things in a dark world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, nothing is ever a smooth road.
Self-doubt, financial unpredictability, rejection, exhaustion, you name it.
Art, whatever form it takes, can be a grind. The creation portion is such a small process,
there’s a level of entrepreneurship woven in.
It’s all on you and that can be super overwhelming sometimes.
You work for more hours than you would a 9 to 5.
All while trying to improve your craft and the rewards come slowly.
And yet, it’s worth it.
But, I kept going. And keep going now.
And honestly, I don’t necessarily think that at the time, it was due to confidence.
Creating art for me is both a catharsis and a compulsion.
And compulsion is stubborn against reason but also against fear.
So, sometimes you have to thank your struggles for getting you this far.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m mainly work in these three categories. Mini Graphic novels painted skate decks and kimono jackets.
1) Mini Graphic Novels
I’ve been obsessed with comics and graphic novels for a while.
So I started making my own.
They’re artsy, short, nature-inspired, with existential themes lol.
I make them short (less than nine pages) so you can read them easily off IG.
2) Painted Skate Decks
Used to skate, but now I use the decks as a canvas.
They feature mainly cool, fashionable chicks of different cultures and races mainly integrated with nature.
3) Haori (Kimono) Jackets
These are my signature works, and I create it all myself. From cutting the fabric to sewing the seams and painting the design. Each jacket has a theme and a story. For example, one jacket featured goldfish, water, water lilies, and it symbolized hope blossoming from a void. The hope is that the wearer/owner will also be inspired to be hopeful in their future.
There’s also an element of uniting two opposites (Eastern and Western culture) in a way that honors the best of both.
Some clients have bought a piece and displayed as wall art without the intention to wear it. And others commission pieces for themselves to wear.
Each piece is made to order, no two are ever alike.
I purposefully make sure that each is unique (more flowers on one side. e.g.), even if a customer should order the same design twice.
My most favorite piece this year was a lotus haori (kimono) made for Texas Advocacy Project as an auction item. They provide legal services for victims of domestic/sexual/stalking violence here in Texas. The haori was in a white silk organza, semi-sheer with painted lotus flowers all around. I chose a lotus since their symbolism is that
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Lived mostly in my head and my imagination. Shy usually and tended to keep to myself.
But I did like people.
Loved nature, learning new things, and painting.
Though to me, being all of the above was ‘normal’, so I just thought I was like everyone else.
But now I realize that to others, I probably came across as eccentric.
Pricing:
- Commision Haori Jacket – Starts at $365
- Assorted Skate Deck – $150 + SH/Free Pickup Commission Skate Deck – Starts at $250 + SH/ Free pickup
- Dreamweaver Haori – $385 + SH/Free Pickup
- Butterfly Skeleton – $395 + SH/Free Pickup
- Beautiful Chaos – $1250 + SH/Free Pickup
Contact Info:
- Email: info@redothart.com
- Website: www.redmothart.com
- Instagram: @redmothart
Image Credits:
Headshot (Tiger Jacket) – Arthur Gomez Rattlesnake + Beautiful Chaos – Pratiksha Muir
