Frank Robertson

I’m a New Orleans-born technical designer and engineering technologist who creates work rooted in the city’s unique culture, history, and spirit. Through my studio, H.I.M. Studios, I create accessories and outerwear from reclaimed materials such as bike tires, deadstock denims, industrial offcuts and weatherproof tarps. My work lives in public spaces, residencies, and local shops. All pieces were created in my New Orleans home studio located in Bywater; all piece's help engage with community, cultural memory and historic relevance. At the core of my practice is a challenge to fast fashion’s waste and disposability. Conscious craft and sustainability help transform overlooked materials into meaningful, functional objects. This will always be a part of H.I.M Studios mission. Whether designing boxing gear/sports equipment to tote bags made from coffee sacks gathered from French Truck Coffee, I’m exploring how design can reveal stories of environment, labor, and resilience. Sustainability for me isn’t a buzzword, it’s a responsibility. Partnering with nonprofits and local businesses, I embrace slow fashion by implementing community and local resourcefulness in the businesses day to day. Through using this method my pieces showcase durability through local sourcing, repairability by a local expert and respect for materials by meeting the business owners/employers face to face. Winning the 2023 Fashion Prize, exhibiting in "Pull" at the McKenna Museum, as well as presenting work at the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design, have been affirming moments in my journey. These experiences validated not just the craft, but the deeper intention behind the work this helped cement the idea that design can be more than visual or functional; it can be a tool for connection, reflection, and meaningful change. Each opportunity deepened my commitment to creating work that speaks to people whilst challenging their perspective on how and where design shows up in their world. Through H.I.M. Studios, I create work that is rooted in New Orleans but speaks to broader questions of environmental responsibility, cultural preservation, and the future of local economies. I’m not just designing. I’m showcasing and storytelling something more than just fashion. In my practice, design becomes a way to repair what’s been overlooked. We have a chance to elevate what’s been discarded and we can imagine what’s possible when we lead with intention. We are creators, lets create.