We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joshua Rhodes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Joshua , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience definitely comes from my mom. Growing up in LA, I watched her navigate so many challenges with grace and determination. She never backed down from anything, and that strength really shaped who I am. In the fashion world, things don’t always go as planned—you hear “no” a lot, deadlines are brutal, and trends shift overnight. But my mom taught me to keep pushing, stay grounded, and turn setbacks into fuel. That mindset has carried me through every collection I’ve built.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m Josh Rhodes, a fashion designer born and raised in LA. Style has always been my language—my way of expressing identity, rebellion, and creativity all at once. I launched my brand, April’s Fool, not just because I was born on April 1st, but because I’ve always loved challenging expectations. The name itself is a nod to not taking life too seriously, while still being intentional and bold with my work.
April’s Fool is all about creating pieces that blur the line between streetwear and art. I’m inspired by contradiction—luxury meets grit, playful meets structured, and classic silhouettes with unexpected twists. Professionally, I’m focused on growing the brand into something that speaks for people who want to stand out without saying a word. It’s more than clothes; it’s a statement.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three things that really shaped my journey were creativity, consistency, and knowing how to connect with people.
Creativity is obvious in fashion, but it’s deeper than just design. It’s about how you tell your story, how you solve problems, and how you keep things fresh even when you’re stuck. My advice: protect your creative time. Stay curious, try new things outside of your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to be weird. That’s usually where the magic is.
Consistency is what separates ideas from actual brands. I had to learn how to show up every day—whether I was feeling inspired or not. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes grind people don’t see. If you’re just starting out, focus on building strong habits, not just waiting for motivation.
And then connection—knowing how to talk about your work, build relationships, and move through the industry with authenticity. Your network will open doors, but only if you’re real about who you are. Reach out to people you admire, show love to others in the game, and don’t try to do everything alone.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Definitely. April’s Fool is rooted in creativity and collaboration—I’m always looking to connect with other artists, designers, stylists, photographers, models, and even musicians or visual storytellers who get the vibe and want to build something unique. I’m especially drawn to people who aren’t afraid to challenge norms and who bring their full personality to the table.
I’m also open to working with brands that want to create something fresh and unconventional—projects that push boundaries, not just sell product.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aflosangeles.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilsfool.la/
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/delowphoto/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
