Friends of FMF: Ray Miah
As part of our new series, "Friends of FMF", we will speak with various figures within the fashion community to glean insight on their lives, projects and outlook.
Name: Ray Miah
Location: New York City
For the readers who don’t know you, who are you, where are you from and what do you do?
“My name is Ray Miah and I'm from Queens, NY. I'm the creator and designer of my brand Orée New York. I also create men's-related fashion content on my YouTube channel and from time to time, I work as a consultant to various brands. Finally, I run a vintage clothing store called Ray's Corner.”
This has been a crazy time for everyone with the spread of COVID-19 and having to self-quarantine. What have you been up to during self-quarantine?
“Can't even lie, at first it wasn't easy getting adjusted to the whole stay-at-home order as I'm someone who's pretty much on the go 24/7. That said, I've been working on upcoming Orée projects, reading a bunch, accomplishing some unfinished personal projects, and surprisingly got back to playing video games!”
Do you find yourself still trying to get fits off while being at home?
“Hahaha! I do! Since I’ve been cooped up in the crib for the past two months, I try to dress up and walk around my apartment.”
When did you first get into fashion? How has your style evolved over the years?
“I feel like for me and a lot of other people, Nigo was our entry into fashion. I was a massive fan of Bathing Ape/ BBC, Icecream, so I started pretty much replicated what Pharrell was wearing in the early 2000’s. As the years have gone by, I’ve pretty much gravitated towards a blend of workwear, military and streetwear.”
You studied computer science in college - a much different field than fashion. How hard was it for you to enter the fashion industry? Do you have any advice for someone trying to do the same?
“I honestly never thought that I’d end up doing fashion full time since I pretty much earned my certification in computer science. Once I graduated in 2017, I decided to take a year off to Start Orée NYC and never looked back since. So long story short, start. It’s not going to be easy as I started without any help. Lord knows I made many mistakes operating the brand but I’m forever grateful for how far I’ve come.”
In one of your recent videos, you described a feeling of wanting to de-clutter your wardrobe and be mindful of the items you purchase. Do you have a process when considering if a purchase is worth it or not?
“Yup! I did a huge closet cleanup and am still downsizing considerably. Overconsumption is a massive problem within our society and I’m very guilty of that. It’s difficult for me even to consider purchasing anything at the moment, especially during this whole COVID-19 situation.”
Vintage is a core element of your style. What are some of the other styles and brands you're into?
“I can’t deny the fact that I’m in love with military garments, so I’ve been diving into old military uniforms and accessories. I also adore traditional workwear brands such as Carhartt, Dickies and Levis - jumping over to some Americana, we have Nigo’s Human Made, Visvim, Kapital, and The Real Mccoy’s.”
Oreé NYC is one of my favorite upcoming brands and has a truly exciting future. What's your plan for the brand and when should we expect the next drop?
“Thanks so much! At the moment, we have several projects lined up, notably the collaboration with fellow YouTuber and longtime collaborator Kyron Warrick. We are also working on more cut and sew items such as trousers and overshirts, a little capsule with New Era Cap, and finally a secret “Sneaker” project, which is incredibly exciting.”
Your vintage shop, “Ray's Corner” is beautifully curated and comes highly recommended. What brands or pieces are you currently looking to add to the shop?
“Once again, thank you so much! At the moment, I'm genuinely content with the selection of items that are currently on the website as they are pretty much in line with my current style.”
Are there any up-and-coming brands that you really love at the moment?
“The brand I’ve been eyeing for the past year and absolutely adore what they do is Bode. I love the sustainable aspect of the brand as pretty much all their fabrics are vintage from multiple countries, the construction of the garments are fabulous and hope someday I can put some money together to afford one of their pieces.”
Over the past year you have garnered a strong following and have seen your YouTube channel grow significantly - how has it been moving into the YouTube space? Who are some of your favorite YouTubers?
“When it comes to YouTube, it is and will forever be a hobby of mine. I like the fact that I can stay true to myself when it comes to my style, talk about it once a week to a worldwide audience, and connect to people from all walks of life.
As far as Youtubers go, if I am looking for straight knowledge, my go-to YouTubers are Ayo from The Fashion Archive and Bliss Foster. Other than that, I can’t forget the homies Kyron Warrick, Keezy TV, Stevie Salle, Daniel Simmons, and Brave New Wear.”
You have stated several times that you’re an avid jazz fan, so much so that you have an upcoming collection entitled “Jazz Club”. How did you get into jazz? Do you have any music recommendations we should check out?
“Jazz means to world to me. I used to go through my dad’s old records and discovered so many excellent jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Hiroshi Fukumura. If jazz seems intimidating, keep in mind that your favorite rap songs are pretty much created from jazz samples.”