Meet Andrew McNamara | Artist, designer, and small business owner

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

Hi Andrew, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I first knew that I wanted to create my own apparel business over a decade ago, when I was still a teenager. My thought process then was centered around self-expression and using fashion to help craft my identity. I saw having my own business as a way to share my creativity, but also I desired the freedom in my life I thought having something completely my own would bring. As I got older, I realized I needed to know more about the fashion industry, so my thought process became centered around learning as much as I could in a hands on way. I started in the back of house unpacking shipments of apparel, and worked my way all the way up to becoming a creative director creating private label goods for other small businesses. Once the pandemic hit, I lost my job and realized the timing was right to finally make my dream become a reality. I had all of the “tools” and thought if I don’t do this now, it’s never going to happen.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Choosing the path of an Artists is never easy, but I have no doubts in my mind that it is what I was literally born to do. Creativity and the need to be a maker has been a part of my existence since I could hold a crayon. Over the years I realized that art could be so much more than impressing my peers, I saw that I could convey emotions, thoughts, and opinions that maybe I couldn’t verbally contextualize. I always pushed myself to be the “best” artist in the room, and even if I wasn’t at the time I tried to create work that I knew was the best I could do. My work is narrative, and my main goal as an artist is to create an emotional connection with my viewer. I might be telling a story from my point of view, but the images I’m building are dealing with universal experiences. The work that I create for RARO is a bit more lighthearted and accessible than my fine art, but I still approach it in the same way. I’m always thinking about how someone can create a connection to a piece, and see it as something they relate too. My brand is all about making art accessible, and putting it in your home and on your body. I want to take down the barriers many feel exist between themselves and the art world. RARO stands for Rad Artists Rare Originals, and my goal for the brand is to partner with as many artists as possible to help give them a platform to share their work with as many people as possible.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always gauge a city by it’s food to be honest! So this great time would definitely be an eating tour of Columbus, OH. For being a city in the Midwest, Columbus has a lot to offer in terms of variety and international restaurants. Some of my favorites are New India, Bamboo Thai Kitchen, CM Chicken, Los Gauchos, Los Agaves Taqueria, and Tensuke Market. There are also a ton of great neighborhoods and pockets of the city which just ooze character and charm. I’d definitely do a bike ride down the Scioto Trail starting at the Park of Roses, and then make a stop at Emmett’s Cafe. I’d make our way to the Short North to visit the Pizzuti Collection, which is a beautiful museum that hi lights contemporary artists. I think that the North Market is a staple, and I’d also hit the Arena District to stop at Warios Beef and Pork which is a killer sandwich shop. One of my favorite things to do is to walk around German Village and look at the architecture, and there is also the Book Loft and Katzinger’s Deli there. We would also explore Clintoville and make sure to stop at Dough Mamma for pastries and then go to Tigertree, which is this amazing gift shop and a “must visit” spot when in town. Lion Cub’s Cookies in Grandivew is another place that would be high on the list, their cookies are just crazy good. Honestly, I could keep going, but people should just visit and start exploring!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would say that my parents have been paramount in giving me the confidence needed to become an artist and entrepreneur. They also encouraged me to chase my creative endeavors, and helped me in all ways as I crafted that non-linear path forward artists often take. They had their concerns about career options and financial stability, but they always trusted that I would figure things out, and find my way to where I wanted to be. I still have some growing to do before I claim myself a success, but I feel like my goals are within reach, and I know they’ll share in my joy when that day comes!

Website: https://www.raroapparel.com/

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

Other: Hello@raroapparel.com Andrew@mcnamaraart.com https://mcnamaraart.com/work

Image Credits
Images of models shot by Sam Gugliemotto