Now Reading
Meet Sean Bilovecky, Designer of Wrath Arcane


A man and woman holding hands while walking down the street.
The Return of Indie Sleaze Style
A view of the city skyline at dusk.
Hipster Travel Guide | Minneapolis, MN
A woman in red and blue shirt dress standing on street.
How To Make A Hockey Jersey Look SEXY
A cat sitting on top of a stack of soda bottles.
Follow This: Bodega Cats of Instagram
A woman with long hair and black nails holding a necklace.
Bushwick Hipsters
A view of the river from above in autumn.
What to Wear on a Day Hike
A person holding up a large ice cream cone.
Big Gay Ice Cream #WITHTHATSHAKE
A group of people walking down the street at night.
Hipster Travel Guide |New Orleans
A woman wearing a hat and holding onto some steps
80's Dad Glasses Are A Thing

Meet Sean Bilovecky, Designer of Wrath Arcane

A man wearing black pants and a white shirt.


Cleveland is hardly considered a fashion hub. But Sean Bilovecky believed he could change that when he launched his fashion label Wrath Arcane in 2006. The contemporary menswear designer decided to stick to his roots rather than bolt for New York or Los Angeles.

I had a chance to speak with him after the Wrath Arcane Spring 2008 launch party at Clothing Brigade in Cleveland Heights, and he had a lot of insight on what it is like to run a hip street wear label out of the Midwest.

“Being from and based in Cleveland has influenced what we have to say as a label,†Bilovecky said. “It’s like the Cleveland of the past is coming back to life and having an impact on apparel production again.â€

The former student of Kent State’s Fashion School managed to globalize his brand just two years after its conception, with his label appearing in stores across the United States, Canada and Japan. Even with an international following, Bilovecky has kept the production of Wrath Arcane at home in the Midwest.

“I would have to say our biggest achievement is hearing our accounts from all over the world say that their customers are starting to care about where their clothes are made,†Bilovecky said about U.S. production. “Customers are buying Wrath Arcane over more established and ‘trendy’ brands that are made in crap conditions.â€

Embracing the motto, “Big Labels Are Fucked,†the brand exemplifies the notion of truly independent fashion. The words Wrath Arcane mean “secret anger,†an impression brought on by the frustrations of big labels running the world. Bilovecky believes in building a brand that will make the clothing industry better, especially for its home in Cleveland Heights.
“Cleveland used to be the second biggest garment producing city in the United States,†Bilovecky said. “Poor corporate leadership and greedy unions took this all away. Now look at Cleveland. It’s a mess.â€

Developing a brand that means so much to Bilovecky is the best part about acting as his own boss. While working under his own rules, Wrath Arcane has turned into one of the fastest growing independent menswear lines in the United States.

“We all feel really lucky to be doing exactly what we want to do,†Bilovecky said.

The menswear collection includes slim-fit, cropped denim and dress shirts with unique snap-off harnesses. The Quiver Trench, worn by the designer at the Spring 2008 release party, features a snap-off quiver pocket, designed after pouches archers used to stow their arrows.Owning a street wear label that is hip and innovative takes more of an effort than some may think. But in the end, the rewards of running a successful business greatly outweigh the struggles.

“Most importantly, you have to be able to appreciate when times are good,†Bilovecky said. “Let the ‘ups’ define you and your company, not the ‘downs’.â€

PHOTOS: Wrath Arcane

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
View Comment (1)
  • It is so refreshing to see a graduate of Kent State’s Fashion Design school (Just as I am) first of all not having to flee to a large city just to get a little creative appreciation as an artist. Second, it is even more awesome for these guys to go a step further and use and actually care about the ” Made in the USA” frame of mind.

© 2020 themidwasteland.com. All Rights Reserved.

Scroll To Top