Ripley Rader is an American fashion designer who is the founder and creative director of an eponymous clothing label based in Los Angeles.[1] [2]
Rader's interest in fashion was influenced by her upbringing in West Virginia, where her parents owned a fabric store, and her grandmother taught her sewing.[3] [4] Initially, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue musical theater. However, her career path changed to fashion design after a buyer from Fred Segal took an interest in a homemade jumpsuit she had created.[3]
In 2013, Rader founded her boutique store at Fred Segal, initially focusing on jumpsuits, which coincided with the resurgence of 1970s fashion trends.[4] [5] She chose jumpsuits because they can be worn by a variety of body types.[5] Later, she expanded her range to include other ready-to-wear items such as caftans, shift dresses, wide-leg pants, and crop tops, and introduced a plus-size collection.[5]
Her designed clothes have been worn by celebrities including Alessandra Ambrosio,[6] Amy Schumer,[7] Felicity Huffman,[8] Gigi Hadid, and Kate Upton.[5]