Conversations with Rae Finn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rae Finn.

Hi Rae, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My friend and I started Hogwash n Rhinestones as a country-based t-shirt brand back in 2011. This was our way to bring a Lil‘ Nashville vibe up to the Boston area.

We started traveling all over doing trunk shows and pop-up shops at concerts, businesses, and at some of our favorite watering holes. Creating relationships with Hogwash fans and finding places where we became pop-up regulars.

About four years ago we expanded the HNR brand to include a line of upcycled fashion. I have always been a fan of dressing differently and wearing clothes that create chatter. You might want to say the line is country girl meets rockstar with a sprinkle of gypsy soul. Every piece is one of a kind.

We love our Nashville HNR family of musicians who we get to dress and design for! We are hopeful to open up our Nashville studio real soon. Offering to style, designing, and hogwash of course!

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 road to anywhere I believe is always under construction and When a detour pop-ups, it’s a matter of rerouting to get to the same place. We opened a brick-and-mortar shop back in 2015, we closed in 2017.

We would be open on the weekends but had no inventory because we were out on the road doing trunk shows. So at the time, it made no sense to have the overhead for an empty store. Tough decision for sure.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love the art of recycling fashion. Taking something old, tattered, and discarded and turning it into something a rockstar would wear! Half the time, I don’t even have a plan for a design, I just start working, and then it all falls into place.

Putting fringe on a flannel, creating boho, hippie bell-bottoms and cropped camo jackets are a few of my favorite projects. Your outfit is just as important as the words you sing or speak. It’s my job to turn up the volume with each Hogwash design.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I would say I am hugely inspired by old-school country music… well all old-school music, country being a favorite. I crank up Waylon, Elvis, and Willie in the studio to get the creative juices flowing.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Www.hogwashnrhinestones.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/hogwashnrhinestones/
• Facebook: Facebook.com/hogwashnrhinestones