Creative Director & Designer

RICARDO MONTAÑO

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

DESIGNER

AUTHOR

About me

RICARDO MONTAÑO, IS A FASHION DESIGNER AND CREATIVE BASED IN LOS ANGLES. WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY, HIS WORK IS DEEPLY INFLUENCED BY HIS UNIQUE UPBRINGING AS A FIRST-GENERATION AMERICAN. THE CHILD OF IMMIGRANT PARENTS. THEIR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES SHAPE HIS DESIGNS.

HIS CREATIVE JOURNEY BEGAN AT HOME, WITH HIS MOTHER TEACHING HIM HOW TO SEW AND DESIGN. EVERY PIECE HE CREATES CONTINUES HIS FAMILY TRADITION OF CREATIVITY. HIS FAVORITE ASPECT OF DESIGN IS CONCEPTUAL, WHERE HE CAN USE GARMENTS AS A CANVAS TO TELL STORIES. IN THIS WAY, HIS WORK DOES MORE THAN JUST FIT A BODY-IT TELLS A STORY, CARRYING THE LEGACY OF MY FAMILY AND HERITAGE.

PERSONAL BRAND

Established in 2007 by Ricardo Montano, Barely Broke was born out of a spirit of hustle and an ever-present drive to succeed. The brand is rooted in maintaining the relentless, hungry mindset of 'hustle like you're broke', even amidst success. At the same time, we are committed to engaging with significant cultural and political dialogues through our work. To us, 'Life's a hustle, dress accordingly' is more than a motto—it's a call to action, a lifestyle, a reflection of our belief that our attire should embody our ambition, our resilience, and our passionate engagement with the world around us.

Follow Us @BarelyBrokeLA

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My Work Sample