As the MVP of the Canadian streetwear scene, Toronto’s own Spencer Badu brings his Ghanian influence and youthful rebellion to his design with bold shapes and colours. There’s a lot of buzz around Badu these days, as in collaboration with Ruffles and the Raptors, he’s dropping a new and limited-edition Cut Different Collection. We sat down with the designer himself to discuss his latest Collection, worn by none other than the Raptors’ Pascal Siakam, and how it inspires him to embrace the signature uniqueness (or, as Ruffles would call it, own the ‘ridges’) that makes him Spencer Badu. —Vita Daily
Hi Spencer; congratulations on the new collection! So what was the inspiration behind the jacket, t-shirt and toque in the collection?
Thank you! We wanted to create something truly original for this collection knowing that both the Ruffles and Raptors brands have found success in their respective industries by leaning into the traits that set them apart. So our inspiration was embracing our differences and looking at unconventional lines in nature and architecture that’s native to Toronto. It’s this idea of being “Cut Different” – the idea of owning what sets you apart from the crowd – that we wanted this collection to embody. You’ll see that uniqueness shine through different elements of the capsule lineup, from the workwear style windbreaker jacket that brings an entirely new edge to traditional sportswear, to my signature notched detailing at the neckline of the premium-quality tee, and the original triangle stitching featured on the Canadian-style toque to make it Cut Different.
How does the Cut Different collection embody your personal style?
In design features throughout the Cut Different Collection, from workwear-style pockets to notched neckline detailing, you’ll see nods to my personal style and brand. These special details allow the pieces to stand apart from other team merch lines as a capsule collection that is truly in a league of its own. I’ve always been passionate about taking traditional uniforms and turning them on their head to create something completely original so putting a brand-new spin on the uniform proudly repped by Toronto Raptors fans and infusing my traditional workwear style into it was an incredibly fun and creative experience to be a part of.
Worn by style icons like Pascal Siakam, how does it feel to see the popularity in this collection?
It feels unreal. Having grown up between Brampton and Toronto, I’ve always been a huge Raptors fan so to see a player who not only has such an effortless, yet distinct sense of style, but who I personally love to watch, wearing one of my pieces is absolutely amazing.
Any advice for how we can embrace our ‘ridges’ that make us who we are?
I would say I’ve always been a bit of a rebel. When it comes to the creative process, I’ve looked at traditional archetypes of clothing and thought: how can we challenge this to create something truly original? So my advice to those who want to lean into what makes them different is if you think it’s cool, go with it, no matter what anyone else thinks. Everyone who wants to embrace what makes them unique can enter for a chance to score pieces from the collection at cutdifferent.ca until December 1. I can’t wait to see how everyone styles them so be sure to show off your fit check on social with #RufflesCutDifferent.
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