Richard Saenz is a Houston-based fashion designer whose work can be labeled as "Avant-Garde". His work includes unconventional sewing techniques, boiling/burning fabrics, unfinished seams, frayed hems, asymmetrical cuts/shapes, reforming the body, deconstruction of garments, irregular/hand stitching, one-of-a-kind, handmade pieces. His influences come from the likes of  great designers: Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garcons), Martin Margiela, Hussein Chalayan, Junya Watanabe, Ann Demeulemeester, Masaki Matsushima, and Issey Miyake. He is also a fan of Jurgi Persoons, Susan Cianciolo, Sharon Wauchob, Russell Onan Sage, Koji Tatsuno, Mintdesign, Rodarte, Walter van Beirendonck, Tao Kurihara, Rick Owens, Shinichiro Arakawa, Keupr/van Bentm, Rozema-Teunissen, and others. Saenz has also had his work worn by musicians for performances and music videos including Shirley Manson of Garbage, Twiggy Ramirez (ex-Marilyn Manson), and Kim Gordon. His clothing has been used in films. Actress Rossy de Palma has worn his clothing. His work has also been seen in "avant-garde" fashion magazines: SCENE (UK), PLATINUM INTERNATIONAL (Baltic version), FUDGE (Japan), and SURFACE. He has also collaborated on his collections with: Earnest Diaz (who designed his menswear for one season), Rolando Briseno (who designed his handbags for one season), and Jovan Hernandez (who designed his menswear for four seasons). He also designed for the now defunct label, FRAMED & DRIED for two seasons with Luz Torrico and Travis Bowsher. Saenz currently has a diffusion line called, MAD RECITAL (for men and women) in addition to his signature line. Saenz has also done benefit fashion shows for Spacetaker Foundation and Make a Wish Foundation. Richard Saenz debuted with his Spring/Summer 1998 collection, which was presented at the Houston hair salon, Cut Loose. He has shown his collections at such venues: The Ensemble Theatre, Commerce Street Artists Warehouse, no tsu oH, The October Gallery, Aurora Theater, Superstitious Art Warehouse, Barnevelder Arts Complex, Meteor Lounge, Winter St. Studios, Aerosol Warfare Gallery, Wade Wilson Art Gallery, Avant-Garden, and others. His collection is now available at WHITE'S CLOTHING SHOP (Osaka, Japan) and soon at WHITE'S CLOTHING SHOP (Shanghai, China). In the past, his collection were sold at Binge & Purge (St. Louis, MO), Overscore (Riga, Latvia), Beth's Closet (Houston, TX), Pixie & Ivy (Houston, TX), and Yu (NYC). Soon his collection may be available at Primitive Culture (Calgary, Canada).