Robert Geller shapes the future of menswear at Rag & Bone, blending the grit of New York’s downtown cool with the timeless elegance of traditional tailoring, while prioritizing comfort and versatility for the modern man

Words DOMENICO COSTANTINI

Portait of Robert Geller

How would you describe your collaboration with Rag & Bone and how has your vision contributed to redefining the brand’s identity?
I was brought in to help guide Rag & Bone menswear into its next chapter. Rag & Bone has a great history, and I feel honored to have the opportunity to sharpen the collection as well as the brand identity. I’ve always seen the brand as being quintessentially New York downtown cool. All of my artist, filmmaker, and entrepreneur friends always loved the brand, and these guys have grown to be really successful and are still true to Rag & Bone. We are now building a collection that encompasses the whole lifestyle of these customers. They lead busy and exciting lives, and we offer a versatile wardrobe that fits all aspects of their daily needs.

What does it mean today to work with tailoring, balancing tradition and innovation?
This is a great question as we have been thinking about this a lot as well. Tailoring has such long traditions, and that is part of the beauty. There is a certain way to make a beautiful suit, so how do we bring the Rag & Bone grit to our tailoring? We believe that it lies, like so much in menswear, in subtle details. The choice of fabric, a special button, a special topstitch, and then how you present it through styling can really show the attitude of the brand.

Which urban and cultural elements inspire you the most when creating your collections?
In literature, you often hear the saying “Write what you know,” meaning that drawing from your own personal experiences usually makes for the strongest stories. I believe that as a brand, we should draw inspiration from all that is around us. We were born in Downtown New York and have always had our headquarters there. It is an endless source of inspiration—from its creatives to its music and architecture. Downtown New York is a place where creativity and business meet; people are busy chasing their dreams and creating things for the world to admire.

How do comfort and essentiality blend together to create a new form of male elegance?
Men are no longer willing to sacrifice comfort to look good. Historically, dressing up meant being uncomfortable, but that is no longer the case. We put a lot of value in comfort in all aspects of our collection. Through advances in fabrics, we are able to create very elegant-looking clothes with a great hand feel and comfort through stretch, even in our woven fabrics.

What is your interpretation of the “essential with something extra” in contemporary menswear?
I believe that most men feel comfortable in clothes that feel familiar but somehow better. We are always pushing forward through design details, new fabrications, and subtle fit adjustments to keep offering something new—something better.

How has your personal aesthetic evolved, and how does it translate into the collections you create?
My aesthetic has definitely evolved over the years, especially as I’ve had the chance to collaborate with different brands and see how other designers approach fashion. However, I’ve always stuck to a core philosophy of making clothes that are versatile, timeless, and comfortable. I think it’s about finding a balance between personal style and something that resonates with a broader audience. The way I approach design is always through the lens of functionality first, but that functionality must be wrapped in something that has a unique perspective.

How do you see the future of menswear and what role do you think Rag & Bone will play in that future?
The future of menswear, for me, is all about flexibility and versatility. Men today need wardrobes that work across different facets of their lives. I think Rag & Bone will continue to be a brand that provides that balance of function and style. As menswear becomes increasingly about the full lifestyle, I think we’re in a great position to evolve with our customers and meet their changing needs. It’s about offering modern men something they can rely on, something that feels authentic and true to who they are.

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