MATEO VELASQUEZ

Risk?

Mateo Velasquez was the second contributor I considered within my 360-campaign. I discovered Velasquez on a whim when conducting research into designers who are influenced by pop punk and have similarities to Charles Jeffrey’s style.

I had great admiration for his designs, and as an emerging designer graduating from Central Saint Martins, I felt this fictitious collaboration could benefit the brand as a platform to propel his name, as well as the frustrations of Generation Alpha with society. At this phase of my development, I was searching for different. I wanted a brand no one was aware of to alleviate comparison and to present something tangible. By eliminating Jil Sander, it has left open a space for another collaborator.

Reviewing this brand at a greater extent will support in analysing if it is a more fitting proposition for my purpose. I have again culminated my research into the form of a case study to fulfil this.

Deriving from Columbia, menswear designer and sustainability advocate Mateo Velasquez is a recent graduate of Central Saint Martin’s fashion school of 2017. Upon debuting his brand under ‘Velasquez’ in 2019, Mateo has since leveraged his designs to act as a muse for his style preferences and to identify himself in garment form. His label is one of self-expression and operates as a safe space for the support, empowerment, and collation of communities, including that of LGBTQ+. The notions of self-belief and education within his work truly resonate with similar impressions I want to portray within mine. Velasquez uses his designs to spark conversation by confronting traditional stereotypes and societal themes, breaking them down to evoke disruption and need for change. Using his platform to influence and inspire, I was keen to collaborate with such a brand which can translate protest through fashion forms.

History Style

The Velasquez style reminded me of Charles Jeffrey’s with an additional nod to the queer community and glamour as represented in the styling and stance of the models in the mood board to the left. Wanting to maintain subcultural connotations within my project, Velasquez notably references the 70’s punk era and Vivienne Westwood facets, alike Jeffrey, through a range of tartan prints, restricting accessories and heavy editorial makeup.

His ‘Pretty in Punk’ and ‘Leather Boys’ collections carried these influences, whilst providing a powerful message of blight for masculinity typecast. “My mission is to prove that we can keep creating, we can continue to express ourselves creatively, but doing so responsibly”

(Velasquez, 2021) I also appreciate how Mateo Velasquez’s designs are thoughtfully curated, transparent and climate friendly through the exploitation of recycled and upcycled materials. For my collaborative purposes this could work suitably with a Generation Alpha consumer who is presently placed at the forefront for saving the planet.

Velasquez is situated towards an androgynous market, mitigating a one size fits all criteria: instead, embracing individuality and a unity for one to be themselves in his garments. Mateo’s work is primarily showcased on social platforms and websites, hence placing the brand at a younger demographic who appreciates sustainable procedures and selfexpressive collections as well as contemporary formats of marketing. The Velasquez consumer is conscious yet confident and is unafraid to battle perception. They do not conform to the conventional and seek to use their clothing as an armour to perform as their voice for demanding change and rebellion from the majority.

As an avid researcher, there wasn’t enough information within secondary sources to suffice my explorations so I decided to contact the Velasquez Instagram page ran by Mateo Velasquez himself as an attempt to gain first-hand information which could endorse my studies.

The message was sent on my university page, as a professional approach for him to look at my work simultaneously. I politely asked if he would consider engaging in a Q+A via message or video call whilst complimenting his work and its relatability to my project. Unfortunately, I did not receive a response and his account has not been updated since December 2022, reasoning as to why.

I believe if I had the opportunity to conduct this interview it would have provided me with a greater hindsight into how I could have potentially taken his brand forward.