By Felicia Felmlee
Murphy News Service
The Twin Cities’ fashion and video scene receives contributions from one local creative individual in particular – Rachel Roff.
The 26-year-old Canadian grew up near Niagara Falls and attended college in Grand Rapids, Mich. There she studied media productions “with a little arm of advertising and marketing,” she said.
Roff is the producer and project manager at Brave New Media – a content development and management company – where a typical day consists of a video shoot on location or in the editing suite.
But, that is not all Roff does.
Roff is also a local fashion designer and founder of deLange Designs – a fashion line she started in 2009 when she was 22.
Between her full-time job and her fashion line, Roff also manages to fit other obligations into her schedule.
Roff is also on the board of directors of SOL Inspirations – a nonprofit organization that advocates for eco-friendly and responsible fashion. She is also a contributor and co-founder of Mpls Style Crush – a blog that recognizes stylish people in Minneapolis.
DeLange Designs is feminine, Roff said, with each handmade piece special for each person. And she produces small line runs making each piece original, she says.
She likes to work with different textures and patterns.
“I like to mix bright colors with soft colors to create a unique aesthetic,” Roff said.
As far as her personal style, Roff described it as feminine with some boyish touches.
“I like to dress up but keep things down to earth too,” Roff said. “I like to put some creative pieces together but you won’t find me glammed up ever really.”
But to others, her style may reflect that of a character from a 1977 American romantic comedy film.
“My boss recently told me that I look like Annie Hall,” Roff said with a laugh. “Not that I look like her but my style kind of reflects Annie Hall, which I love that movie so that was fun.”
But fashion has not always been apparent in Roff’s life, especially during childhood.
“I didn’t really start thinking about fashion at all until I was in sixth grade,” Roff said. “I kind of just wore whatever my mom gave me and whatever my cousins handed down to me.”
Roff quickly learned how to sew as a result of the hand-me-downs. She created her own style by using the clothes her cousins gave her and altering them to fit her, she said.
However, becoming a renowned fashion designer is not her ultimate goal, she said.
“I guess I am a fashion designer because I create clothes,” Roff said. “But I don’t envision trying to create a huge fashion brand. I like my outlet and I want to keep it.”
Roff’s interest for video producing also began in high school, she said, when the only “A” grade she received was in a video class.
“That was a pretty good indicator that I actually liked something that could be counted as a potential career, “ Roff said.
In the future, Roff plans to continue to work in the video and fashion design industry along with giving back to the world.
“I hope to be contributing positively to the world in some way.”
Felicia Felmlee is studying journalism and psychology at the University of Minnesota.