RtA appoints Robert Liptak as new creative director and announces a complete renewal

By

Chenu Alexis

Published
Nov 4, 2022

RtA or Road to Awe, the brand founded in 2013 in Los Angeles by David Rimokh has announced the appointment of Robert Liptak, as new creative director. He will be in charge of repositioning the brand, elevating the offering and expanding into accessories.

Liptak began his career in womenswear while still finishing his senior year at The Paris School of Fashion, catching the attention of American designer Rick Owens. Upon graduation Liptak was offered a position at Anthony Vaccarello. He then followed the designer to French luxury fashion house Saint Laurent in 2016, before relocating to Los Angeles in 2019 to act as senior women's ready-to-wear designer at Tom Ford. 
 
"I've always dreamed of becoming a creative director," says Liptak. "And I'm thrilled to be doing it with RtA. I come from a luxury background and my intention is to elevate the RtA brand for tomorrow. A contemporary brand, with a strong DNA, a strong potential but that today, needs to be repositioned and needs to be elevated. Not necessarily through prices, but through the construction of the silhouettes, the style, the image and even the logo, by bringing a new light and a new color palette."

Until now dedicated to the development of women's lines, Robert Liptak will try his hand at developing a men's collection for the first time. "A different spirit from the women's collections, carried by new vibes, both sexy, playful and mysterious, while remaining authentic," says Liptak, "or the idea of including more tailoring in the brand and mixing it with streetwear." The new creative director will also strengthen the brand's accessories offer, around a line of shoes, bags and glasses and small leather goods.

Rimokh, the brand's founder, says he is delighted to be starting a new chapter in the brand's history, almost 10 years after its launch. "The COVID period led me to some new thinking," explains Rimokh. "The idea of taking a totally new direction, both in aesthetics, image and story-telling, quickly emerged. Robert's emotional sensitivity, his vision, his quest for more luxurious materials, his humble, passionate and not ego-based spirit, makes him the best partner today." 
 
The RtA brand, which already has 3 boutiques in the United States, in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, is now aiming to develop internationally, by reinforcing its wholesale market in the United States, but also in China, Japan, South Korea, and especially in Europe.
 
This new strategy should lead to the relocation of its production zones, currently based in China, to focus more on Europe, and particularly Italy. The brand will also present its fall-winter 2023 pre-collections in New York in December and at Paris Fashion Week in January and March 2023.
 
Fully restructured, the brand also named Aaron Stout as global vice president - wholesale. Stout, Burberry's former director of wholesale for the Americas, built his experience working for internationally acclaimed luxury brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Lanvin. 
 
Ricardo Gomes, another big name to join the new team, will take over the art direction of the brand. "RtA's roots are based on art and culture," explains Rimokh. "Gomes, who has collaborated with some of the biggest names, from Madonna to Patti Smith to Doja Cat to Megan Fox, will direct an exclusive video as a kick of for this new era of the brand at the end of November."