Designer Rafael Cox
There are strict stereotypes that come with being from in a military family
and upon meeting Rafael Cox, within seconds they are all disbanded.
Instead of an ultra conservative persona, one is treated to a designer that
creates concoctions with ingredients such as taffeta, 50’s silhouettes, sex
appeal, and flirty fun. Born the youngest of four, in New Mexico, making a
brief stop in California and now setting base in Atlanta, Rafael Cox is a
well-needed addition to the fashion industry. The advent of his designing
career began in 2007, upon his graduation from American Intercontinental
University where he majored in fashion design and merchandising. While
at AIU, Rafael Cox was a talent-encompassing student, who was
continuously acclimated for his designs. Pretty soon his notoriety began to
heighten, and his designs were being featured at fashion shows such as
Dress For Success, Clark Atlanta Homecoming, Morehouse Homecoming,
and the well renowned Project X fashion shows. Rafael Cox has had his
designs worn by Kalenna of Pop R&B group Dirty Money, Rocsi of
106&Park, Diamond of Crime Mob, SoSo Def recording artist Dondria Nicole, and was the costume designer for Kandi Burress during her tour with American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino. As a wardrobe stylist, Rafael Cox has styled Michael Vick in Warrick Dunn’s “Wash & Wear” and worked with Elite Model agency through Jeffrey’s “Fashion Cares” show. With all of this attention garnering work, it isn’t a surprise that praise of the Rafael Cox line has appeared in publications such as Jezebel, Paper City, Atlanta Journal Constitution and as a Contestant on Season 9 of Lifetime Network hit series, “Project Runway”.
Although these landmarks in Rafael’s career occurred only a few years ago, his love for fashion had cultivated long before then. “[When I was younger] I use to love to watch runway shows,” Rafael says. “I use to love to see Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell…just a lot of different models on the runway and I remembered it seemed so magical to me for them to be walking down the runway giving you these looks with these clothes.” He continues, “I used to watch Chanel, Christian Dior, and Alexander McQueen shows when I was younger and they just all inspired me to want to achieve that type of magical way of constructing clothes. It seemed to me so interesting to be able to construct these clothes and then have them fit the body and the fact that they’re made from hand.” Citing influences such as Yves Saint Laurent, and Tyra Banks, one can expect all categories with Rafael Cox from ready-to-wear to haute couture.
Women who wear the Rafael Cox line are pedigrees of fun, funk and fashion. With the brand it’s all about having the aesthetic and components perfectly applied with a touch of grace and elegance. “My type of girl…she’s funky. She’s young, she’s old. She’s one of those types of girls that can mix and match garments. She can go to the thrift store and buy a blouse, dress or maybe even a skirt and pair it up with Chuck Taylor’s,” Rafael says of the “girl” he designs for. “She may put it with David Yurman jewelry, or she may have a custom piece made from a designer like myself and dress it up or down with thrift store accessories. My girl is edgy, she’s fun and she just really loves fashion and likes to explore fashion.” So whether it is a simple investment piece, a catchy accessory, a sexy dress, or a luxurious trouser pant, with the Rafael Cox brand everything goes, just as long as it’s fun.
