Co-founders Aristotle Sanchez and Jimbo Williams made headlines as the creators of the "cult-famous brand founded by two homeless designers."
Their bold graphic items, which have gained popularity with the recent Y2K revival, are coveted by street-style enthusiasts. La Ropa's items are now seen on celebrities like Jay-Z, A$AP ROCKY, Bella Hadid, Playboi Carti, André 3000, and more. Limited edition items are frequently removed from the website, contributing to the desirability due to their audience's scarcity. Much like Instagram and Snapchat stories, most La Ropa products appear and disappear almost instantly.
After arriving in New York nearly six years ago, Williams and Sanchez found themselves rubbing elbows with the creative directors of Jil Sander, Christian Dior, and others. But, unlike their party peers, they were lacking the single largest predictor of success: money. "We always thought that this fashion world was right there, but we didn't really realize how much money that shit costs." With a dwindling supply of products from their hand-made luxury brand Insubordinate, no home, no money, just a McDonald’s charging station, and rudimentary photoshop skills—the team pivoted from bespoke to gloriously graphic, and La Ropa as we know it was born.