WHERE DID YOU MEET?

Hello IDOL!!!  Well it all started in the stars!!!! In the fashion academy of Antwerp! We were students and we became very good friends.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF CREATING A BOUTIQUE THAT SUPPORTS UP AND COMING TALENT? WHY IN ANTWERP? 

Actually it came very naturally! We were out of school and we were not really seduced about the idea of working for someone else in Paris or Milan. So we started to think about where would be the best place to present our private work. And then created the main idea of RA. Antwerp what the best for us, cheap places with all our friends at the academy to work with, and all our contacts!

RA IS NOT ONLY A BOUTIQUE IT IS ALSO A CAFE/RESTAURANT, BOOK STORE AND ART GALLERY. WAS THIS THE INITIAL IDEA OR HAVE YOU BEEN ADDING CONCEPTS AS YOU GO ALONG?

It start all with the space, before it was a restaurant with an art gallery and an apartment! It was really inspiring to respect those codes. We wanted to create a confusion of art, fashion, books, music… a bit of everything! We even stock vintage show pieces.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN TAKING ON BOARD NEW DESIGNERS OR ARTISTS? WHERE DO YOU FIND THEM?

We travel around the world and catch talents and contacts for all our projects. We are very sensitive to the work from the others and we are really curious.

YOUR RESTAURANT HAS A CAPACITY FOR 50 PEOPLE, PLUS YOU PUT TOGETHER SPECIAL EVENTS IN COOPERATION WITH YOUR ART GALLERY. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO MANAGE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON UNDER THE SAME ROOF?

At the beginning it was crazy! We were always like (screams). But with time we built a great team and we trust their good work.
 

YOU NOW HAVE A SHOP IN PARIS AS WELL. HOW HAS THE JOURNEY BEEN? 

We are still building the shop in Paris, it will be open for the end of Men's Fashion Week. We indeed did a lot of exhibiting in Paris in the past, with a show room to promote young talent. That’s how we realize that Paris wouldn’t mind having a new fashion spot. Everything is so commercial in Paris it’s getting boring!

HOW DIFFERENT IS RA PARIS FROM RA ANTWERP? ARE YOU PLANNING ON CREATING THE SAME CONCEPT STORE (ART GALLERY, CAFE, FASHION RETAIL STORE…)?

RA Paris will be really different to RA Antwerp! Antwerp is more of a museum or a gallery feel. Paris will be based on a strong avant garde identity. We’ve been designing the shop ourself because we really want it to be unique and personal. We will still keep the production feeling, with a special stage that we will give to designers or perfomers, that wants to express their work.

ROMAIN, I SAW A COUPLE OF PIECES THAT HAVE YOUR NAME ON THEM- ARE YOU A DESIGNER?

Yes Anna and I started our own labels and we are still running them. It’s difficult with all the work we have with the shops now, but we manage it!

CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT THE RA INITIATIVE OR RA VZW TO SUPPORT YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS AND ARTISTS?

We opened a non-profitable company a few month ago. It’s for us to be able to gather help and financial deals, to be able to create more and more platforms to present and help young artists on. It will be a big focus for us once we open the Paris shop.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE FOR RA?

Wow relax!!! We are not machines (laughs)

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS?

I think we should just do what we want to do! Whatever the shit is around us! Let‘s just try at least.

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITES DESIGNERS/ ARTISTS? WHO SHOULD WE WATCH OUT FOR?

Keep an eye on Narelle Dore, Niels Perraer and Elise Gettliffe! Believe me!

WHO ARE YOUR IDOLS?

Our parents!

Interview by Bianca Spada