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Fashion Designer Icon Rickie Lee a Standout at Oakland Style Week
Sponsored by Visit Oakland, Oakland Style Week, which ran from Oct. 18-22, featured culinary experiences, cultural conversations, art walks, fashion shows, musical performances, haute couture moments, vintage shopping, and more.
By Y’Anad Burrell
Special to The Post
Sponsored by Visit Oakland, Oakland Style Week, which ran from Oct. 18-22, featured culinary experiences, cultural conversations, art walks, fashion shows, musical performances, haute couture moments, vintage shopping, and more.
All eyes were on Oakland native Lee Rickie, a celebrated fashion designer, at a discussion moderated by fashionista Candase Chambers at the former Joyce Gordon Gallery in downtown Oakland.
In a first-ever collaboration between Fashion On The Square and Candase Chambers, founder of Black Is The New Fashion, guests learned details of Rickie’s fashion ascent, which started a little over 10 years ago.
Rickie described his hard work, drive, and sacrifice that led to him creating styles for many celebrities, including Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs; Tony, Toni, Tone; Common and actor Alex Hibbert from the hit television show “The CHI.”
These celebrities are just a partial list of his designer placements, and there is more in store, starting with his first women’s collection that will go to market in 2024.
The crowd’s exhilarated response upon hearing that Rickie is developing a women’s collection escalated further when Rickie gave a resounding ‘YES’ to include plus sizes in that collection.
So far, 18 of Rickie’s collections have gone to market.
Though he travels internationally to Africa or within the U.S. borders in Los Angeles or Atlanta, GA, Rickie shared that Oakland will always be home.
He is frequently asked why he did not move to a fashion destination city like New York or L.A. but the answer was simple: Rickie said he has been able successful in the fashion industry by staying right here at home.
He encourages anyone looking to thrive in their passion to start at home, wherever that may be, and stay committed to their vision, purpose and passion.
In staying committed and true to Oakland and through the lens of giving back, Rickie hopes to start a non-profit organization to support youth who are interested in the fashion industry. ‘
Given his roots teaching Oakland Unified School District Students sewing and other fashion design techniques during the early years of his fashion design journey, the non-profit would be a full circle moment for Rickie.
For more information, visit www.leerickiecollection.com
