Essentials: Ross Wilson of Route One

The intertwining of music and fashion is as natural a marriage as any. Just look at the recent collaborations between Tom Ford and Justin Timberlake or Saint Laurent and Daft Punk, both of which birthed a collection of garbs to complement the sounds of each artist’s newest project. When paired together, the two artistic realms can offer a unique commentary to one another – one that can lend new perspectives and experiences that indulge all senses rather than one.

Traveling along on a journey that took him from music to fashion, Ross Wilson spent over 15 years of his young life as a successful club DJ and party promoter, however his LinkedIn profile now sports the title of Brand Manager at UK streetwear retailer Route One. His role at the longstanding boutique includes channeling the new direction of the brand, interviewing the biggest names in skateboarding, developing R1’s very own skate team and even curating special projects with any of the 400 brands they stock. Constantly on the road, be it to satisfy his disc jockey fix or to represent Route One on a business endeavor, Ross maintains a core group of Essentials that rarely leave his side. As an avid shoe collector, Ross begins with a reliable pair of kicks that allow him to travel comfortably between various destinations, but he also mentions “some sharp hard bottoms are always important.” Nothing sharper than a pair of pony hair New Amsterdam Boots if we may say so. The UK native also informs us he totes a little red LEGO box that contains one of his most prized possessions: his son’s baby teeth. “Traveling the world is great, you meet tons of interesting people and see fascinating things, but being away from my son is hard, so I always have something to remind me of him wherever I am.” Let’s just hope those precious choppers don’t form any cavities from the Extra gum that is consistently at his side.