Mateo Velasquez

As mentioned at the start of this book, my research goes beyond the immeasurable at times and I often lose myself upon the masses I have collated. I feel I have stamped down on this and found connections in my work more appropriately in this module. Whilst digging into the punk notion and androgynous design, I tasked myself to unearth more obscure designers who hadn’t yet met ultra-phenomenon and were masked amongst the popularised flocking the search bars. For me these emerging designers hold a vision and identity which is just as important, and I was keen to explore how younger creatives are enveloping this through imagery and design choices, as well as their fresh ideas to take inspiration from. Central Saint Martin’s graduate, Mateo Velasquez is a Colombian-born menswear designer I stumbled across in my research. His work vividly reminded me of a fusion between Vivienne Westwood and Charles Jeffrey, encouraging the maximalist side of my brand to want to explore the nonconformity of gender roles and conceptual appeal to his collections even further. Delving into his background, I found a deep connection and admiration for the purposes of his label, Velasquez. Founded in 2019, Velasquez aimed to define a new and rejuvenated masculinity which bends stereotypical boundaries and embraces a space Mateo Velasquez wished to have had when moving to London at the age of 17. His brand is one of empowerment, community, and safety, aiming to provide a voice for unapologetic self-belief, transparency, and expression. His collections are materialised from recycled and second-hand pieces- something he is incredibly passionate about and matters he wants to educate his audience about. In an interview with ‘Fucking Young!’ Velasquez stipulates “my mission is to prove that we can keep creating, we can continue to express ourselves creatively but doing so responsibly” (Velasquez, 2021). Velasquez is one of many emerging designers determined to do something for the ongoing sustainable crisis rupturing the future of the industry. He is a solid example of what generations are wanting from fashion today, and its not just a pretty garment anymore!

The Pretty in Punk collection Velasquez designed really jumped out to me for its nods towards the 70’s and Charles Jeffrey. Figures 3 and 4 are some of my favourite images. They categorise the origins of punk through tartan prints, slick gelled Mohicans, and restrictive accessories. I was interested in observing the makeup in conjunction with the styling of this shoot. It demonstrated how recyclable clothing can still look effortlessly original and readapted to suit any style. Velasquez associated the Pretty in Punk collection to be “a way to allow our bodies to confront and disrupt the landscape to reclaim our visibility” (Velasquez, 2021). This shows his firm desire for change towards masculinity categorisations and an urge for individuality and freedom through expression. Velasquez has given me great inspiration which I can trial for my test shoots and take forward with me towards my final outcome.

Could Velasquez’s disruptive notions, boundary pushing and voice for transparency be the change the fashion industry needs in the future? How could I excel their brand further towards the Generation Alpha prospective?

Figure 3: Velasquez Pretty in Punk Retrieved from: Mateo Velasquez

Figure 4: Velasquez Pretty in Punk Retrieved from: Cake Boy Magazine