Meet Hunter Runnels | Fashion designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hunter Runnels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hunter, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Giving up is something I deal with daily. The pressure and stress to be creative and innovative continuously make being an artist difficult. I tend to compare myself to everyone allowing my doubts and inner demons to slow me down.  When there are dark days I just remember who I am doing this for and why, that reminder pushes me beyond my perceived limits. Each day I wake up more excited than the last, and can’t wait to create.  I  have found that having personal high standards, a thirst for knowledge, and a positive support system comprised of people who love and believe in me is crucial for my success.  Despite all obstacles, my faith in God, His plan, my supportive family and friends is what ultimately drives me to keep going and never give up!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the ways We have designed the Death of cool brand to be unique is in its aesthetic. We created the brand to be a fusion of many styles. It is a blend of punk, grunge with a pinch of glam rock for a bit of flair, while also trying to elevate it to upscale high fashion. those are just some of the ways D O C is set apart from other brands out there.

Fashion is a highly competitive and fast-paced industry and recently I feel the momentum is starting to pick up for us. Lately, I have been working with local artists it’s given me so much inspiration and has been fueling my passion and creativity. It gives me such a euphoric feeling to be working with talented individuals and feed off their positivity and artistry. Having the opportunity to make fashion by merging different mediums (fashion and music) to create something inspired and truly one of a kind, representing both Deaths of cool and the musicians is so incredible,
No words can give it justice. it’s a kind of pride I’ve never experienced before. I can’t wait to share more about this and other projects we are working on with the world, we are very excited! So stay tuned!

My love of fashion and my passion for creating is the reason I am here today. A close friend (who I mentioned earlier) began to notice during the pandemic last year, how much I had been mentioning my dream quite frequently. He saw the passion in my eyes as spoke of Death of cool. Ironically it was this passion he saw years ago that initially sparked our friendship. So he took action, he showed me that these desires we had been discussing frequently were not merely fantasies and that I wasn’t just a delusional person with unrealistic dreams. By investing his time, money, and experience he proved that if I really wanted to start this brand, it was something within my grasp. This encouragement, support, and unwavering belief in my raw talent, along with others are what gave me the confidence to turn my dream into reality. I am so grateful for that push because now my hobby and my passion are no longer just a creative outlet or a way for me to escape. Today it’s my career and it’s what I want to die doing.

The road to this point has not been a smooth voyage, but you know that’s ok because nothing worth having has ever been easy! Following your dreams and your desires is a quest full of challenges, it will test you and it will make you question whether you really want it or if you have what it takes to finish the journey. I have had to overcome so many obstacles, financial burdens, and relationship struggles, all these things made creating and staying focused very difficult. Along the way, I have made so many mistakes but I grateful and blessed for those missteps because those are the times I learned the most. The biggest lessons I’ve learned and that I still try to manage are having patience and managing my time, work, and personal goals while remaining focused.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Honestly I don’t get out a lot, I’m a bartender so I’m constantly around loud music and people drinking. If I had a friend come visit I would rather stay in order a pizza maybe have some ice cream and watch movies and go out on my patio and enjoy long conversations about life and look at the stars

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I think my friend Javier has been extremely crucial to my success and where I am today. He is a constant support system for me and encourages me to keep going! His decades of graphic artist and teaching experience have also been an incredible resource for Death of Cool. He offers valuable feedback, and his constructive criticism pushes me to think of things from a different perspective ultimately helping me to improve and evolve. In my opinion, one of the most important things a dreamer can have is a believer, someone who believes in you even when you don’t believe in yourself.

Website: https://deathofcoolclothing.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_deathofcool_/

Image Credits
Javier Saenz Manuel Franre Hunter Rutledge