Life & Work with Sam Rinkov

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Rinkov.

Hi Sam, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Family. Thats where it starts for me. I have been fortunate to have grown up in such a tight-knit and incredibly supportive family. I owe it all to my parents for creating a familial environment that is welcoming and loving. And as the middle child, I am really lucky I have been able to learn from older sister, utilize that knowledge and then pass it down to my younger brother. We have something special that is hard to come by, and I will never take that for granted. But family to me is much more than your parents, brothers & sisters or cousins. It’s anyone in your circle that you’re close enough to call family. There is no boundary to family and that’s what makes it so special but also so fragile. Family identity’s often change, evolve and grow, but the love & appreciation for those around you never waivers. In March, I abruptly left Indiana University due to the pandemic. I made a lot of friends in Bloomington that I call family so it was not a pleasant surprise whatsoever. But as I came back home for what turned out to be the next nine months and counting, I was reminded of how lucky I was to have such a close relationship with my immediate family at home.

That is really what sparked my passion for starting Fam Los Angeles with my brother Ethan. Aside from our love for clothing, fashion and a creative drive we wanted to create an inclusive brand that allowed individuals to cherish the people they called family, be a voice for people to express their love for those they love and also create a space for people who may not have anyone to call family to feel appreciated and part of our family. In July, we began rolling out our streetwear line that included a sweatshirt and trucker hat. Since then, we have been coming out with new products and collections every month. Our latest drop featured a collaboration with the Bigg Chill Yogurt shop, showcasing an iconic LA spot and teaming up with a family-owned business we love. We have a lot in store for 2021 and cannot wait expand Fam Los Angeles as we continue to love and cherish those around us.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a year of extreme loss and we know the effect that this year’s loss and challenge has brought families across the nation and the world. Our hearts go out to those who have lost and families that have been forever changed due to the effects of the pandemic. But in a year of complete chaos, we all stopped. We stopped moving from activity to activity so quickly and became confined to the places we call home. And when we were told to stop seeing people in our immediate household, we found ways to communicate with the people we wanted to see most. So, if you think about the people you began to zoom with or sat 10 ft away with at the park, that is family. This year brought the unimaginable but it also provided the opportunity to see who our family was made of, who we wanted to spend our repetitive days talking to, and perhaps realization that we needed to rekindle old familial relationships.

Starting a business was not easy and me and Ethan dealt with extreme obstacles in manufacturing and producing product. I could go on about our challenges. However, I am grateful for the adversity because that is how we learned so much. We received a lot of “no’s”. Manufacturers couldn’t turnaround products fast enough or shipping times became delayed so we learned how to pivot and how to find the next best solution. This year has been tough there’s no sugarcoating that, but if you can find a way to appreciate life when the going gets tough the going will get a lot easier.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Fam Los Angeles is a streetwear/lifestyle clothing label based out of LA. We specialize in high-quality apparel such as sweatshirts, sweatpants, t-shirts and hats. Our message and our clothes set us apart. We create our clothing using sustainable and ethical manufacturing and deliver high quality, stylish and comfortable clothes. Our message is also very strong. Many people can relate to the idea of family but few have been able to express it. So, we have set out to spread our message of love and appreciation for those around you, especially through relatable messaging on our clothing. We do like to do things a bit different than other brands in our all facets of our production so we will continue to create and deliver a unique product.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The apparel industry has drastically changed over the last 5-10 years so we will definitely see significant changes in the next 5-10 years. This year we all set aside fancy clothing which has led to a big upward trend in loungewear, workout clothing and trends like tie-dye. In the years to come, we are going to see a huge shift in companies becoming more cognizant of the environment while they produce their clothing. It is important that we recognize more sustainable ways to create. More inclusivity within brands will become apparent as we continue to support the body-positive movement. Lastly, we will also probably see a big increase in fashion supporting technology as those become intertwined.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: fam-losangeles.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/famlosangeles/