When I found out Ray Howard, founder of RabbitJax Clothing, was going to be in Denver Fashion Week’s 2023 lineup, my head exploded. Ray Howard is a self-taught fashion designer who is quickly rising to national fame. You may have seen him in the news, in Black Pride Colorado, or on social media. He is known for accessibility in his designs, customizing the clothing for per every order, and of course designing nonbinary clothing! I caught up to Ray a few nights before his streetwear line came out at Denver Fashion Week.
Our Interview With the Founder and Chief Designer of RabbitJax:
Ray Howard has only been in the game a few years and is already making waves. RabbitJax has been invited to show in New York Fashion Week! Also the current reigning Mr. Gay Pride Colorado 2023-24 was wearing RabbitJax when they won. Rabbit Jax is currently working on a gown for Miss Gay Colorado to compete in the next Miss Gay USofA pageant!
GayDenver: Tell us about yourself, Ray.
RabbitJax: I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee, which is where I started sewing. I founded RabbitJax a few years later in Phoenix. So, I have a few ties in Phoenix as far as fashion goes. I started with Phoenix Fashion Week and then moved to Denver about two years ago. When I moved here, I had just come off of doing my first runway show ever with Phoenix Fashion Week. I asked if I could show with Denver Fashion Week, and they said, “Yes, you can put 20 looks together.” My Phoenix Fashion Week show was only two looks in April of 2022, but I had a 20-look show by November of the same year. It all happened so fast, sometimes it feels surreal.
GayDenver: Who or what are your biggest influences in the fashion industry?
RabbitJax: Interesting question. Because I started RabbitJax to address the things I didn’t see in the fashion industry, I quickly became one of my influences. That said, I’m highly inspired by the message and energy behind Vivienne Westwood. She’s very anti-establishment and encourages people to do their own thing, wear what they want, and be themselves.
I firmly hold onto her as a reference point when I’m creating because her message helps me stay focused and motivated. Regardless of whether everyone else chooses to wear my clothes or not, I’ll continue to champion this message of self-expression.
GayDenver: How do you address representation in fashion? What does that mean to you?
RabbitJax: I started RabbitJax to address the fashion needs that I didn’t see being represented elsewhere. I noticed that there’s a lot of love and attention for the flamboyant black gay persona in media and on platforms like Instagram. However, what about those who identify differently, like me? I often felt like I couldn’t see myself outside of that specific character. So, I started RabbitJax to say, “Hey, in case you’re wondering, if you identify as non-binary, trans, black, gay, or anything else that falls outside the mainstream, you are 100% welcome here.”
I want to emphasize that I’m not excluding anyone, especially not our white cis-gendered counterparts in the fashion industry. My brand’s message is that if you identify as the “other” in any way, you’re welcome here, and you will be loved here. You’ll notice this inclusivity in my designs, where my male representation often shares the same silhouette as my female representation. If I love a particular fashion item, like a pair of high-waisted booty shorts, I’ll make sure it works for both genders. I believe that gender norms shouldn’t limit how you express yourself.
In my most recent runway show at DFW, I had the privilege of working with two trans-female models. It was an honor because they embodied the essence of what I call “goddess.” I thanked them for gracing my runway, and they expressed their gratitude for the opportunity. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship, and I’m determined to keep pushing for more representation in the industry, making sure that people not only get seen but also feel seen.
While Colorado, where DFW is held, may have a majority of white cis-gendered heterosexual people, I’m glad that I can find the diverse models I need. Thanks to the message I’ve built around RabbitJax, which makes self-expression mandatory, I’ve been able to connect with individuals who share my vision and want to be a part of it. It’s how I continue to grow representation in my brand, ensuring that people can see that I’m fully committed to this mission.
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GayDenver: Were you trained in design or sewing?
Rabbit Jax: Now, I am a completely self-taught designer. So, everything that everyone has seen so far, and everyone will see in the future, is made by me and created through trial and error. My main background is in insurance; I work as a claims adjuster during the day. Then, as soon as I can turn off the computer, I’m off to work behind my sewing machine, getting things done.
GayDenver: What pushed you to leap into design?
RabbitJax: During the pandemic, Phoenix Fashion Week held a designer boot camp, and I was part of it. I was unsure if I should sign up, but my business partner encouraged me to do it. I decided to give it a try, even though I had a full-time job and the boot camp classes happened while I was at work. I would be on my computer at work, and you would only see me because I was working and attending classes simultaneously. I’d introduce myself and participate and then go back to work on mute.
After the boot camp, I had an aha moment. The director of Phoenix Fashion Week, Brian Hill, told me that the world would be missing out on something amazing if I didn’t continue with RabbitJax. That motivated me and I pushed ahead. I came in second place in the Phoenix Fashion Week Designer Boot Camp and just one month later, I was the only designer from the boot camp selected to show in Phoenix Fashion Week as a whole. They allowed me to showcase two looks, and I created those eagerly.
The two looks I selected for Phoenix Fashion Week were even featured on the news that year because they were styled by a celebrity stylist, Shannon Campbell. She was doing a news segment and liked my looks, using two of the models she typically chose for her segments. She asked to use my designs, and I was thrilled to agree. This was my first taste of realizing I could achieve my dreams of getting my designs out there, being on TV, and having influential people wear my creations.
The journey didn’t stop there. After the show in April 2022, I realized I couldn’t stop this momentum, even after moving to a different state. Denver Fashion Week and its producer, Haley Hodapp, showed me that if I had the drive and abilities, I should pursue this wholeheartedly. RabbitJax became an LLC around September or October last year, and that’s when I truly started taking it seriously. I even considered leaving my insurance job because of the opportunities that were opening up.
This year has been particularly exciting. I started as a relatively unknown designer in the area, but just recently, 5280 Magazine named me one of the five local designers to watch out for. It’s a significant change from last year when people thought my work was cool, to now being recognized as one of the up-and-coming designers. It’s been a journey filled with blood, sweat, and tears, but it’s incredibly rewarding to be seen as one of the ones to watch out for.
GayDenver: Can you walk us through your creative process when designing your clothing?
RabbitJax: I often come up with ideas while going about my everyday life. For example, I might think, “Oh my gosh, this sparkly pink fabric would look amazing as a pleated skirt.” When this happens, I’ll decide to explore the idea further. I conduct market research to see if similar creations are already out there. I check if what I have in mind is something that someone else is selling. If I can’t find anything like it during a Google search or other research, it means my idea is unique and different.
I don’t sketch my design very often, to be honest. Instead, I usually start making them with muslin fabric first. If it works with muslin, then I move on to using the actual fabric. Sometimes, I skip the muslin stage and go straight to working with the fabric, deciding whether it will become a dress, tracksuit, or jumpsuit. If it works out, that’s great; if not, that’s okay too because I enjoy the process of experimenting and creating.
My journey in design has been self-taught, so everything you see in my digital footprint is created by me, with my own hands. I’ve had to figure out what works and what doesn’t through trial and error.
I faced a situation at DFW last year when one of my designs, a dress, turned out to be much shorter than intended. It looked fine on my mannequin and in my head, but when a model wore it, it didn’t work. So, I had to improvise and ended up transforming it into a high-low dress just two to three days before a photoshoot. This quick turnaround became one of my most famous pieces and is featured in DFW promotions. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience.
GayDenver: If you could put anything on a billboard what would it be?
Rabbit Jax: ‘Follow that dream’. I waited so long to pursue my dream, and now that I’m doing it, in hindsight, there was no real reason it should have taken this long. Every day I get to wake up and do something that fills me with joy and purpose. I want everyone to feel that way. Don’t wait, don’t make excuses, don’t put it off. Chase those dreams while you still can
Author: Jeff Wilson
Jeff is one of the owners of GayDenver and one of its writers. He is a Denver transplant who loves the city and the proximity of the mountains. He is happily married to his husband and loves thinking with his furbaby Thayella.