Biography
Rains grew up on a fifth generation AQHA Hall of Fame Quarter Horse Ranch called, The Birdtail, in Simms, Montana. He trained All-Around horses, competing in events ranging from Horsemanship, Reining, and Western pleasure to English, Barrel Racing and Jumping. He later moved to Dallas where he received a degrees in Economics and International Business from Southern Methodist University. After graduating Traver found himself in New York City training horses at the Chelsea Piers where he first met Richie Rich. Together the duo founded the fashion label, Heatherette, and dressed the likes of Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Gwen Stefani, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, Aerosmith, and Britney Spears.
Rains was a featured judge on the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model and as the designer for a fashion show contest. He was a guest judge on Project Runway Canada for the "When It Rains It Pours" challenge and also on Project Runway when contestants had to make costumes for WWE Divas. Rains' acting credits include the 2005 film One Last Thing and My Super Ex-Girlfriend. Other credits include judge on The Arrangement. Rains appeared as his brand representative on NBC's "Fashion on Ice special", The Anna Nicole Show, MTV's MADE, MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen. Live appearances as a fashion correspondent include: MTV's TRL, MTV News, and Good Day LA. Special appearances include: The Tonight Show, E! News, CNN, The Today Show, Good Day New York Live, and E!.
As co-designer/founder of Heatherette, Rains showed as part of the official New York Fashion week 16 times with his collections over a period of nine years. Outside of New York, Heatherette showed around the world in other fashion weeks including: Tokyo, Kyoto, Moscow, Miami, Mexico City, and Los Angeles. Heatherette shows were attended by hundreds of Celebrities and Taste makers, featured in virtually every fashion trade magazine worldwide. Some well known models who walked in the shows included: Naomi Campbell, Devon Aoki, Atong Arjok, Omahyra Mota, Adina Fohlin, Ai Tominaga, Alek Wek, Anouck Lepere, Bridget Hall, Caitriona Balfe, Chanel Iman, Cintia Dicker, Coco Rocha, Darla Baker, Daul Kim, Elise Crombez, Elizabeth Jagger, Erin Heatherton, Eva Herzigova, Flavia de Oliveira, Freja Beha Erichsen, Hannelore Knuts, Isabeli Fontana, Liya Kebede, Lily Cole, Lily Donaldson, Lisa Cant, Lydia Hearst, Mini Anden, Miranda Kerr, Tiiu Kuik, Heather Marks, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Caroline Trentini, Egle Tvirbutaite, Anne Vyalitsyna, Amy Wesson, Caroline Winberg, Raquel Zimmermann, among many more.
In 2007 Heatherette headlined the world-renowned AIDS charity event called the Life Ball in Vienna. This year's event was organised by Vogue Italia which retraced 20 years of Life Ball designs and featured creations from well-known designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, Heatherette and Gianfranco Ferre. Adding to the star factor were former US President Bill Clinton, model and actress Milla Jovovich and Sudanese model Alek Wek. Last year, the event raised almost 2 million euros to finance major HIV and AIDS projects around the globe.
In addition, Rains had created two other fashion brands as a behind the scenes ghost-designer as well as started a popular nightclub in Hawaii.
Recently Traver has shifted his focus back to his Montana cowboy roots. Currently he is focused on re-igniting the competitiveness of the Ranch horses. There he is helping his family restructure the Quarter Horse breeding , sales and training program.
