Coding Imagination: An Insightful Chat With Anthony Browning
Meet Anthony Browning, the creative behind Rhea Wear and Kloner. With a keen eye for minimalism and an innate ability to infuse distinctive details, Browning crafts digital garments that effortlessly stand out. Inspired by everyday moments and real-life fashion encounters, he translates his unique vision into designs that resonate both digitally and physically. Collaborations with industry luminaries like The Diigitals, ShowStudio/NickKnight, and Briana Andalore underscore Browning's innovative skill.
Hi Anthony! Thank you so much for chatting with us. Can you please introduce yourself and provide a brief overview of your background and journey into the world of digital fashion?
Hello, my name is Anthony Browning and I am the creator behind the designs of Rhea Wear and the cofounder of a digital fashion brand called Kloner (@klonerco). I got into digital fashion back in 2020! At that time I was learning how to make physical clothes with my sewing machine, but realized as much as I wanted to make clothes, I hated how much fabric I was wasting and the amount of unfinished projects I’ve thrown out made me very uncomfortable. This experience made me self aware at what I was doing so I wanted to find a solution that would allow me to execute my designs by how much fabric would be needed and how the garment would look before producing the physical. Once I got an idea on how I would plan and execute my ideas I did my research and I found the program Clo3D that led me down the digital fashion rabbit hole.
Courtesy: Anthony Browning
What initially sparked your interest in digital fashion, and how has it shaped your creative process and career trajectory?
Honestly it all happened so fast, but what I can really remember that sparked my interest in digital fashion was that anyone could wear anything they wanted digitally and wear it on social media. 2020 was the year of digital content so I think I thought it was awesome that this new era has made us sort of transition to wearing digital clothes for Instagram just like how you would dress your Sims character or your Fortnite character. I loved the idea and wanted to dive more into this space as I was still learning the software Clo3D and was creating my own digital library. My interest in digital fashion has shaped my creativity so much in ways that I have never imagined that could be possible, it’s fun. As for a career I have noticed since day one that this is something I would love to pursue full time. Even after all the opportunities and collaborations I have been able to be apart of like working with The Diigitals, ShowStudio/NickKnight, and Briana Andalore (Julia Fox’s Stylist) I knew this is something I can do full time and will eventually will do when the time is right to make that transition.
Can you share a particular breakthrough moment or turning point in your journey that has had a significant impact on your work?
Yes, I feel like my major breakthrough moment would have to be when Clo3d posted my work on their Instagram. That validation and acknowledgement was so nice and it was cool gaining the following I did, and people asking me how I created the garment and what settings I did to get the final product. That love from everyone was so genuine and that made me feel like a true digital fashion designer.
What inspires and influences your creative vision and design aesthetic?
I think about this often when I’m designing a new digital garment. I would say most of my design aesthetic gravitates from more of a minimal approach, but making sure there are details that make the design stick out a little more. For example, it could be a pair of simple black trousers, but I would add pleats to the trousers to give it a more of a fun twist to the trousers. When designing I’m mostly inspired by anything I’m surrounded by in the moment and even inspired by someone's outfit that I have seen walking down the street. I like to keep that inspo in my head and design how I want to see it or how I would design if I wanted to wear it. While designing my designs I like to keep myself in mind if it would be something I see myself wearing digitally and physically.
Can you highlight one of your most memorable projects or collaborations and the story behind it? What made it particularly special or challenging?
Hands down the best project I have done was collaborating with Briana Andalore, she reached out to me on instagram and asked if I can do digital avatars of her, Julia Fox and Richie Shazam wearing all of my digital designs and Briana would post this on social media for Julia’s birthday. I was so honored that I was given that opportunity to put my skills into a project like that especially since Julia is one of my muses when it comes to my designs if I’m designing a garment that’s crazy and fun and not minimal. My dream one day would be to be able to make a design physically for Julia to wear if I ever did decide to make clothes physically, now that I have the right tools to make this possible and while also knowing how to reduce waste in my physical garments.
How do you see fashion technology contributing to a more sustainable and responsible future for the industry? Are there any specific initiatives or practices you are passionate about?
Of course, fashion technology has the potential to make significant contributions to a more sustainable and responsible future for the fashion industry. My take on this is that fashion technology enables the development of innovative, eco-friendly materials such as recycled fibers, biodegradable textiles, and organic fabrics. Also, advancements in 3D printing and digital fabrication allow for more efficient production processes, reducing waste and resource consumption.
I love that technology can be used to enhance supply chain transparency by utilizing blockchain and other digital solutions. This allows consumers to trace the origin of materials, manufacturing processes, and distribution, fostering more ethical and sustainable choices.
Lastly, VR and AR offer opportunities for virtual try-ons and showrooms, reducing the need for physical samples and minimizing waste from excessive production Which I’m a firm believer in when it comes to trying on digital clothes. This can also lead to a decrease in carbon emissions associated with transportation and travel.
Courtesy: Anthony Browning
What challenges or obstacles have you encountered in your journey, and how have you overcome them?
I guess the challenges and obstacles I've faced while being in this industry is trying to get people on board to see your vision on digital fashion, which doesn’t always go over so well. Some people think it’s funny that digital clothes are a thing and that people are wearing digital clothes just to post on Instagram and other social media. Lucky for me though I have gotten over these obstacles by continually doing what I love and my portfolio and opportunities/collabs speak for itself so slowly more and more people start to get it and what I do as a designer.
Are there any particular artists, designers, or thought leaders in the fashion technology realm who have influenced or inspired your work? If so, why?
Absolutely, once I got familiar with digital fashion and all the creators and digital fashion brands I automatically fell in love with so many, but the few that I have mad respect for is BALMLABS and The Fabricant. They both have really such great work and you can tell the passion is there and not doing it just for the hype and current status on digital fashion. They have the same morals and goals that align with mine. It would be a dream of mine to possibly be able to work with one of them in the future if the opportunity comes along.
Can you discuss the role of inclusivity and diversity in the fashion technology industry and its importance in shaping a more equitable future?
Inclusivity and diversity play a crucial role in the fashion technology industry, as they are instrumental in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future for the entire fashion ecosystem. By ensuring that technology and fashion are developed with inclusivity and diversity at the forefront, the industry can better meet the needs of a wide range of consumers, promote social equality, and foster innovation and creativity.
Courtesy: Anthony Browning
What are your future aspirations and goals? Is there a particular impact or legacy you hope to leave?
Yes, one of my many goals in digital fashion is to be able to work with a big brand like Nike or H&M to help them create their designs digitally before mass production. Brands have done a really good job implementing Clo3D to their work flow and that is something I would love to be a part of one day contributing my craft to this design world for physical garments. Being sustainable is my main focus and I would like to keep that going with physical brands especially brands that have not thought about implementing digital software to their work. I’d like to leave an impact by just being true to what I preach when it comes to digital fashion and fashion in general.
