GREG ROSS: Los Angeles, worn in and cut big
Some designers build a brand around a story. Greg Ross builds his around a wardrobe. The Los Angeles artist and designer makes clothes based on the things he actually wears, cut with heavy cottons, washed-out colours and exaggerated proportions that feel as if they have already spent a few summers on the Californian coast. His label has just arrived at ANSH46, so here is a short introduction to the designer and what we picked.
Vintage shops on the Californian coast
Ross's way of looking at clothes started early. His mother was an antique collector, and as a kid he went along with her to vintage shops, mostly up the coast in Ventura and Santa Barbara. He has been buying used clothes since he was around eleven. That habit of digging through old garments, reading their washes, their wear and their imperfections, still sits at the heart of everything he makes.
He went to college for art and started studying and making fashion in 2013. Right after he graduated, his work was noticed by Kanye West, and he went on to become an integral part of the YEEZY brand. In 2019 he turned his focus to his own eponymous label, GREG ROSS. By his own account, he made his first collection in a month, and it is still the achievement he is proudest of.
Silhouette, texture and colour
Ask Ross about the theme of a collection and he will tell you there isn't one. "I don't feel like I have a theme," he said in an interview with Exhibition Magazine. "I really just do what I think looks good, and what I'm feeling for." Instead of a narrative, his universe is built on three things: silhouette, texture and colour.
Inspiration comes mostly from his surroundings and from memories. Ideas get saved as screenshots, and colours are sometimes named after real places, such as "Hills", after a hill in Calabasas. The result is a recognisably Southern Californian look, rooted in the worn aesthetic of vintage pieces but made with attention to detail and quality.
The signatures are easy to spot once you know them. The cottons are heavy, the edges raw and the colours washed. Shoulders are exaggerated, with his autumn/winter 2023 collection taking cues from football shoulder pads. Utility details such as lacing, padding and knots turn up across the range, alongside recurring camouflage, a lot of black and a specific shade of red borrowed from Akira, which Ross calls his favourite film. He describes himself simply as "an American Californian designer", and the clothes back that up.
The ANSH46 edit
At ANSH46 we carry GREG ROSS in our women's offer, with a first delivery that covers everything from base layers to outerwear.
Tops and tees. The High Collar Bodysuit in black and the Eagle Stretch Mock Neck are close-fitting foundation pieces, built for layering under the label's bigger shapes. For graphics, there is the County Crest Tee in navy, the Mercedes Eagle Tee in white and the Mercedes Tee in black.
Knits and sweats. The Striped Quarter Zip and the Shrunken Quarter Zip bring the brand's play with proportion to a classic collegiate shape. The Jaw Hoodie in navy and the Sleeveless Padded Hoodie show off the padding and volume Ross is known for.
Bottoms. Choose between the Moto Jean, the Shrunken Capri, the Striped Sweatpant in navy and the Sport Stripe Leggings, depending on whether you want structure or something closer to the body.
Outerwear. The Sherpa Zip-Up finishes the selection, a cold-weather layer that sits comfortably over a hoodie or a mock neck.
How to wear it
GREG ROSS works best when you lean into the contrasts. Pair a fitted bodysuit or mock neck with a padded or oversized layer, or match the striped quarter zip with the striped sweatpant for a full sporty look that still feels worn in rather than box-fresh. The navy pieces combine easily with one another, while the black and white tees bring the graphics back to basics.
If you are drawn to clothes with a lived-in Californian feel, the label sits naturally next to other Los Angeles brands at ANSH46, such as Rhude and Sekrit Saints.
Shop GREG ROSS at ANSH46
Browse the full GREG ROSS collection online, or visit our store in Rotterdam to feel the fabrics and see the washes in real light. This is a first delivery with limited sizes per style, so if a piece speaks to you, it is worth moving quickly.