ROB BACON
FGI Member | FGI Rising Star Finalist
Rob Bacon is an award winning fashion and accessories designer. His signature avant garde designs have been seen in publications such as The New York Times, Vogue UK, Elle China and Taiwan, Marie Claire Italia and Taiwan, Lapalme, BET-UK, OUT, WWD, MR, Playbill, Yahoo, Instinct, People, Style Watch and Details. He has been featured on Bravo and CNN, and shown on runways in London and New York, and even collaborated on the finale of Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week’s Fall 2015 season.
Rob’s many clients include Tyra Banks, Demi Lovato, Sharon Stone, Rebel Wilson, Gary James McQueen, Lola Lennox, Annie Lennox, Zombie Boy, Christina Perri, Taryn Manning, Deborah Cox, Kelly Osbourne, Kelly Roland, Pedro Capo, Domino Saints and Simon Ungless.
His designs have been shot by photographers from Paris, New York, London, Madrid, Sydney and even his hometown Peoria, IL. He has been fortunate to work with acclaimed photographer Bernhard Deckert, as well as longtime collaborator Jeremy Byrd.
WEBSITE: Robbacon.com
Q and A with FGI President and CEO, Maryanne Grisz
What city were you born in?
Peoria, IL
What is your star sign?
Scorpio
What were you obsessed with when you were a child?
Playing outside with my sister and friends, loved the 70’s.
What do you value most in a friendship?
Loyalty
What’s your proudest moment?
Having my jewelry and accessories in the last Mercedes Benz Fashion Week show in NYC. Also being a FGI Rising Star finalist.
What’s the best part of your job?
I love creating avant garde/sculptural designs.
What’s your biggest fear?
Getting older and not being able to use my hands to create.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
A pizza in London.
What’s next for you in your career?
Goal, selling a collection in department stores.
What’s the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
The Great British Bake Off show. Paul Hollywood was walking around the tent with a red and white checkered table-cloth like a cape.
Who or what in your life brings you the most joy?
So many people but I will say my Frenchie, Tilly.
How do you spend your day, or what does an ordinary day look like for you?
I still work a full time job in hospice. I work on designs in my studio in the evenings and weekends. I also volunteer with my Frenchie Tilly visiting with hospice patients on my off time.
What approach would you take differently if you had to build a business from scratch today?
I would have started fashion designing earlier in life. No regrets, I just would have loved to have designed in the 80’s era.
What is your favorite quote of all time, and why?
“The darkest moments can be your greatest success.” Sometimes those emotions can dig deep into your heart and bring out a deeper passion of work.
What books will you recommend that everyone should read once in their lives?
Retail Pride by Ron Thurston and The Desired Brand Effect by Tracy Matthews.
How do you maintain a work-life balance?
Meditate before bed and listen to music while working in the studio. I make sure to take time to for vacations throughout the year.
What are the biggest challenges you faced in your career and how did you handle them?
Failed projects and rejections which I have used to remind myself of the potential I have for even bigger projects.
What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
Be consistent even when you have disappointments and frustrations. Let those drive you to work harder.
Who inspires you the most and why?
I am inspired by the late designer Lee McQueen’s body of work and his risk taking. Often times I create sculptural designs that are not typical or expected.
What’s the next thing you’re going to do in life?
I love to learn and will continue to explore metalsmithing and fine gemstones.