R IS FOR ROCKY & RIRI

BY: JORDYN STAFF

R is for Riri and Rocky, long may they reign, as King and Queen of everything from street style to red carpet to lingerie, they set the precedent for future style and taste. The powerhouse couple has expanded their influence beyond the music industry and into the world of fashion to pioneer a new code of culture. While it may seem that Riri’s influence on the fashion industry just started in 2019 with the launch of her lingerie line Savage X Fenty, at the 2014 CFDAs, she was bestowed the “fashion icon award” by none other than the godmother of fashion Anna Wintour, who stated that Riri’s use of fashion proves “that incredible style can help take a talented young woman from a small island to the world stage, and along the way spark a lot of conversation about elegance and empowerment.” As a young girl, Rhianna recalls not having a lot of access to fashion. During her acceptance speech at the CFDAs she said, “As far as I could remember, fashion has always been my defense mechanism. Even as a child I remember thinking, she can beat me, but she cannot beat my outfit.” It is clear that Riri is in fact unbeatable with a $115 million series B funding round for Savage X Fenty, led by L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by LVMH in February of 2021. Between 2021 and 2022, the lingerie brand posted revenue growth of more than 200%, and “increased its active VIP member base by more than 150%,” according to a statement from the company. CultureBanx reported that Savage x Fenty is in a position to be the global lingerie market leader by 2025, the same year that women’s activewear is expected to reach a $216.9 billion value.

Now, Riri, with her billionaire status, is making waves by redefining the concept of fashion and runway shows through her Savage X Fenty line which offers affordability and inclusivity at the hand of the fashion goddess herself. At the core of all of the sequins, latex, and fishnets is Riri’s mission for every woman to feel confident in her own skin and challenge the status quo.

Where to start with Rocky—the roadmap to coolness and culture. His icy white smile is always equipped with a diamond encrusted grill coordinated with his outfit from head to toe. From Balenciaga life jackets to babushka-esque Gucci head scarves and Bottega green—whatever Rocky is caught photographed in becomes fashion. In addition to breathing life into trends, he does the same for designers and artists; he was instrumental in bringing designers like Raf Simons, Prada and Ann Demeulemeester to the forefront of the culturally curious minds. Now, Rocky is joining Riri as a curator of culture within the fashion industry by partnering with payment company Klarna, which recently appointed him as shareholder. Under this new role, Rocky plans on combining his love for vintage clothes with an eye on how to buy by ensuring that the kids, “the hypebeast shoppers, that don’t necessarily have the means,” have the opportunity to not miss out on the drops. In addition to this new initiative, Rocky curated a capsule of over 100 upcycled and vintage pieces for the Klarna app and its users.

Aside from their mouth-watering looks appearing anywhere from the steps of the Met Gala to the streets of NYC, the couple has inspired a new generation of fashion leaders to break boundaries and cut outside of the dotted line. The reign of Riri and Rocky represents a future of fashion centered around diversity, inclusivity, and opportunity, and it truly is just the beginning of their rule.


Sources:
https://hypebeast.com/2021/6/asap-rocky-klarna-vintage-clothes-interview
https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/savage-x-fenty-show-nyc-premiere-party
https://www.voguebusiness.com/companies/fenty-fashion-faltered-lvmh-growth-savage-lingerie-beauty
https://www.gqmiddleeast.com/culture/aap-rocky-is-a-fashion-consultant-now
https://www.thecut.com/2014/06/read-anna-wintour-rihannas-full-cfda-speeches.html