As part of our feature on Converse Red's collaboration with artists all over the world, we bring you Artist #12, Dr. Romanelli aka Dr. X. The self-styled, self-taught designer grew up in Los Angeles and describes his approach to design as a “cut-and-paste” method, deconstructing vintage fabrics and textiles to bring them back together again in new and unexpected juxtapositions, the “Frankenstein of fashion” as he put it. “I’ve always liked the idea of taking something apart and putting it back together,” he said. His pseudonyms “Dr. Romanelli” and “DRx” were born of the studio’s methodology, with the majority of his design ideas and inspiration coming from vintage garments. Hence, the “Dr.” component of his alter ego as the “doctor of cloth.” As a professional multi-tasker, he thrives on the “infectious electricity” created by the many projects that go on simultaneously in his studio. Regarding his design submission for the Converse 1HUND(RED) Artists project, he explained, “I wanted to create a visual image that was representative of the healing process. The idea of using adhesive bandages was to illustrate protection and to symbolize hope for a cure.”
