Conversations with Mike Ryan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Ryan.

Hi Mike, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve had a passion for art for as long as I can remember. 1st grade to be exact. I would spend a lot of time with my cousin watching him draw various characters and always trying to replicate his style which I loved and ended up taking my first art class in middle school. I continued expanding my mediums as I grew up and graffiti grasped my curiosity. I painted on buildings and train cars. I loved it. It was a rush.

Fast forward to 2011, I fell in love with fashion and the concept of making my own clothes. I didn’t know the first thing about sewing. So I did what I always did, figured it out. I bought a sewing machine, a denim vest, made some patches and taught myself how to sew by watching youtube videos. This process kind of became my normal, if I didn’t know how to do it, I put in the work and figured it out. I still carry that way of doing things to this day. Always coming up with new techniques and really pushing my curiosity which in turn pushes my creativity. Music is a huge inspiration for me. Ideas just seem to flow through me when I’m in that zone.

I worked in the restaurant industry for about 18 years. It was creatively draining every single day. I honestly hated it. Until one day I decided that I had enough. With the support of my wife, I made the decision to turn my hobby of art/fashion into a career and I never looked back. I created opportunities for myself that I always knew I could. I never stopped believing.

I’m known for my edgy yet high emphasis on detailed custom leather jackets and wide-brimmed hats. With no end goal in sight, I’ll continue to grow and create based on my experiences.

I’m not a fashion designer. I’m an artist, a creator.

Bringing visualizations to life. Feeding the creative monster that has been with me for as long as I can remember. Producing unorthodox one of a kind pieces.

“I want to create a confidence that speaks for itself, when you walk into a room like, damn, that’s a bad motherfu*ker.” – Mike Ryan

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The hardest challenge without a doubt is being away from my 2 oldest daughters. I had to make the hardest decision of my life when I moved away from Florida and plant myself in a city with a booming music and fashion scene. I told myself that if I can sacrifice a short amount of time being away from them in order to secure a prosperous and healthy future for my family then that’s what I’ll do. There’s no time to kill, everything I do is with intention and purpose.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m most proud that I get the opportunity to support my family by doing what I love.

Creating 1/1 pieces for clients that embody their own stories and emotions that they never thought were possible. The look on their faces and the emotions you can see pour out is better than any monetary value.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
There’s no such thing as luck. You create your own opportunities. Everything happens for a reason

Contact Info:

• Website: Shopmikeryan.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/the.mikeryan