Welcome back to Threadlines, our monthly celebration of the extraordinary people who bring Mansawear to life. This month, I’m introducing you to someone who has become much more than a Mansawear customer. Ria Tafani is a photographer, artist, community advocate, animal lover, cancer survivor, and friend. She has generously shared her extraordinary talent with Mansawear, capturing our clothing, events, and the people who wear our designs. But what I appreciate most about Ria isn't just her talent behind the camera. It’s the way she sees the world—with curiosity, compassion, creativity, and a genuine desire to make it better.
How Ria and I Met
Our paths crossed at the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester (BCCR) Annual Gala. Ria was photographing the event, and she immediately noticed my model and Mansawear designs. We started talking and quickly discovered that we knew many of the same people. I was immediately intrigued by Ria—her work, her perspective, and her creative eye—and knew I wanted to collaborate with her. I didn't realize then just how meaningful that collaboration would become. Over the years, Ria has photographed Mansawear on numerous occasions. She has a gift for capturing more than the clothing.
Through her lens, she captures the person, the moment, and the emotion—and often something I hadn't even noticed myself. Working with Ria has been an amazing experience. She inspires me to look beyond the obvious and create beyond what I thought was possible. Someone once told me that the greatest friend you can have is someone who enhances your life and inspires you to become a better person. Ria is that friend.
Meet Ria
Ria grew up in Pennsylvania, although most of her family is from Italy. She came to Rochester to attend RIT, put herself through college, and somehow never left. Rochester became home. Here, she built a career, a family, friendships, and a community that she cares deeply about.
Ria is a professional photographer specializing in corporate portraits, architectural and real estate photography, and events. But photography is much more than a profession for her. It is how she experiences the world. She only truly feels alive when she has a camera on her shoulder or a paintbrush in her hands.
When she isn't working, Ria enjoys abstract painting, hiking, reading, gardening, traveling, cycling, and spending time with her family—her husband Josh, affectionately known as Hippie, her stepson Ryan, daughter-in-law Jenny, and her beloved rescue cat, Pixel. Pixel was barely eight weeks old when Ria found him abandoned near a mailbox close to where she was working. Somehow, I think they rescued each other.
Giving Back
Ria has a deep love for her community and believes strongly in giving back. Over the years, she has served on boards and committees including the Flower City Art Center, Spirit NYS, Pet Adoption Network, and the Penfield Rotary Club.
She has also organized donation drives and fundraisers supporting local schools, homeless teens, and organizations serving young people throughout Rochester. Ria believes everyone deserves the opportunity for a better education, a better life, and access to art, creativity, and experiences that help us grow. She is also a passionate advocate for animal rescue. That spirit of compassion is simply part of who she is.
A Life-Changing Journey
Through meditation, prayer, and Reiki, Ria continues to seek a deeper understanding of life. She became a certified Reiki practitioner during one of the most challenging chapters of her life—her journey through cancer. Ria is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma, and getting through that year required the support of her family, friends, faith, and the incredible people at Wilmot Cancer Institute who cared for her.
That experience changed her perspective. It reminded her that life is not something to simply move through. It is something to experience, create, appreciate, and give back to.
One of Ria's abstract paintings is titled A Page from the Book of Life. When it is all said and done, she hopes her name can be added to that book as someone who strive to be, to become, and to leave something meaningful behind. Her second painting is titled Souls.
Those titles feel very Ria to me. They speak to someone who is always looking deeper, searching for meaning, and continuing to grow.
And Then There Is Mansawear
Of course, I couldn't let Ria tell her story without talking about her Mansawear collection!
When I asked her about her favorite pieces, her answer was simple: everything! Here, Ria is wearing her Sankofa earrings one of her favorite Mansawear jewelry. I love seeing Ria in Mansawear because she brings her own creativity and personality to every piece. That's exactly what I hope happens when someone wears my designs. I don't want Mansawear to define you. I want it to become part of your story.
This Is Ria
A photographer.
An artist.
A wife and stepmother.
A cat mom.
A friend.
A community advocate.
A Reiki practitioner.
A cancer survivor.
A lifelong seeker.
Still learning. Still creating. Still becoming. Ria, thank you for seeing Mansawear through your lens. Thank you for your generosity, your friendship, and for reminding me that sometimes the most beautiful thing we can do is simply see one another. And that, to me, is what Threadlines is really about.
Shop Ria’s Favorites
Explore Ria’s favorite Mansawear styles, including the Essie Bicycle skirt, Sankofa earrings, Dianne Smock dress and other made-to-measure pieces designed to reflect her timeless elegance.
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