Born to artistic parents in Lima, Peru, Ali Rapp was encouraged to pursue her creative side from an early age. Her father, an antiques dealer, and her fashion designer mother moved the family to Houston, Texas when Ali was seven years old and it was there that she began to draw the child-like characters she’s become known for. Her adolescence was spent absorbing art, music, and culture, which were a major source of inspiration to her drawings. After finishing high school, Ali attended The Glassell School of Art before moving to New York to study photography at Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. It was during this time in 2002 that she began making dolls based on her drawings, selling them at Vice and Patricia Fields. One year later, she started a successful collaboration with NYC-based designer, Anna Sui, designing t-shirts, hoodies, dolls, and handbags under the name Ali Rapp for Anna Sui. Merchandise was sold primarily to high-end boutiques in Asia including Isetan in Japan and Joyce in Hong Kong. Ali’s handbags were also a part of Anna Sui’s Fall 2007 runway collection in New York, putting her further into the spotlight. The partnership continued for five years before Ali became interested in developing a line of her own. She is now working on a small collection of t-shirts, dresses, and tote bags based on her characters, all under the name Ali Rapp. Inspired by the beautiful country of Peru, the collection is eco-friendly and is entirely manufactured in Lima. Currently, Ali divides her time between Houston and Lima.
