Garrett James | Source | Founder & Creative Director at Ryoko Rain
Garrett James
Developed by an OC-based fashion designer, Garrett James launched Ryoko Rain – a luxury street and athletic wear company worn by some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment – in 2020 during the pandemic to fuel his entrepreneurial/creative spirit. Garrett, a Japanese-American and dad of three girls, used his two oldest daughters’ middle names, “Ryoko” and “Rain” as a springboard of inspiration and motivation. James placed two R’s back-to-back, representing each daughter, and the company logo emerged along with a butterfly representing deep, personal symbolism for the family. What started small and hyper-local has blossomed into a luxury apparel company worn by athletes, entertainers, and consumers nationwide.
-
Ryoko Rain (https://ryokorain.com/)
Founder & Creative Director
-
Fashion Briefing: The World Series spotlights fashion's baseball opportunity
Over the last year, a growing number of fashion brands have cozied up to professional baseball teams and athletes. Brands including Ralph Lauren, Aime Leon Dore, Pacsun and Sporty & Rich have debuted MLB collaborations with the Yankees or Dodgers and their athletes. The products range from baseball caps to fragrances.
Article -
The W in Designer | Playoffs Style Matchup: Kelsey Plum and Skylar Diggins-Smith - WNBA
A head to toe style comparison of two of the most aggressive guards in the league, Kelsey Plum and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
Article -
Entrepreneurial Spirit Leads to the Perfect Pair of Shorts During Unprecedented Times - New York Weekly
In 2020, Garrett James was knee-deep in his day-to-day routine, running the Ironmen Basketball and managing commercial real estate across southern and central
Article
-
My “WHY” behind Ryoko Rain is family. It originated with family, it breathes because of family, and the legacy is family. I have three daughters: Alba, River, and Poet. When they were really young, they would catch caterpillars with my parents from the Milkweed in their front garden and raise them through their transition to butterflies. Each day was a waiting game to be able to hold the butterflies and release them.
This became a tradition that reflected the stories and life of my family as it evolved and transitioned with the generations. The butterfly represents metamorphosis, delicate beauty, and power. The butterfly is fleeting, as are we. And the butterfly has this capability of huge impact; one small flap of a butterfly wing can alter an entire trajectory, and that’s The Butterfly Effect.
This is how I see my girls, and it’s how I see my brand. Ryoko Rain, in a lot of ways, is an extension of them and who I am because of them.
This brand is a love letter to my Ryoko and my Rain, my daughters, and my family.
-
“Ryoko Rain is about more than just clothes; it’s about expressing our roots and honoring the journey. Partnering with ATHLOS, we’re blending fashion, sports and music to represent something much deeper—our shared experiences, ambitions, where we all come from and where we are going.”
