The artist David Méndez Alonso consolidates his own fashion brand, Outsiders Division. Ricardo Cavolo collaborates with Bally coloring his sneakers and jackets.
Two examples that there are different ways of creating fashion with a Spanish signature.
This is the story of two well-known Spanish artists who have launched, in different ways, the world of fashion. And by extension, a history that also defines the current state of the industry in Spain, from which new opportunities can be created. The first stop is at Outsiders Division, a company that started in 2012, paraded for the first time six months ago on the Samsung Ego catwalk and which has become this year's winner of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Talent Award given at MBFWM. Its founder is David Méndez Alonso (1988), an artist based in Barcelona who has exhibited in a remarkable way around the world. Together with the graphic designers Alberto Perancho and Ales Gallifa, they have created a universe of colorful and free clothes.
At GQ we asked David about this apparent change of creative plane. "I do not think there is a specific moment in which I decided to take that leap," fashion helps to stimulate my creativity and offers me the opportunity to collaborate with many artists, and it also requires different processes, from design to the art direction of a campaign.. In fact, David had already collaborated with other fashion brands before, highlighting Pull & Bear for what it represents in the global industry. So the jump is from art to fashion and from huge fashion to a brand of its own.
Is it then possible to create your own fashion firm in Spain? "I think it's difficult without having any international point of sale," says Méndez. "Little by little we are opening up to new circuits and the new generations are recovering the place that has always belonged to us, at the moment we do not have plans, we do not know the end of our history since we are still living it, it will take a long time to see what Now we have to produce a lot of clothing, distribute it and sell it, and continue to work to expand the imagery of our brand".
The award-winning collection is called 'Brief of Imaginary' and features "a declaration of blatant maturity" through colorful garments, tartan paintings, hats and sweatshirts, patchwork, elaborate patterns and, above all, references to subcultures such as punk and hip-hop. hop There are undoubtedly references to the geometric, free and colorful graphics of David because he drinks more from art than from fashion references. "I'm not influenced by fashion designers, I like American underground comics, surrealism in painting, pop and contemporary art in general, I'm inspired by artists who cross disciplines and their art is difficult to catalog, creativity springs from anywhere, " he tells us.
It seems as if there are no differences between the two worlds. "I do not establish any," he clarifies, "fashion has always been renegade to superficiality and banality, despite being historically associated with art, the only thing that changes is support, but the message remains the same." David promises that his arrival in the world of fashion will not be circumstantial and that they will continue to "make noise".
The second story is starring another artist, Ricardo Cavolo, who has recently presented a collaboration with the well-known firm Bally. It is a collection created together with Swizz Beatz, producer, DJ, Grammy winner and cultural agitator that goes from collaborating with Kendrick Lamar to participating in Art Basel. The products in this collection are illustrated by Cavolo (1982), one of the best known names in our country and with a very recognizable visual image. It is an international release of level that has appeared reviewed in the editions of the main specialized magazines.
Cavolo prints for the Swiss luxury firm 'shamans', tigers, feathers and colored eyes, integrating them in basics such as shoes, sweatshirts, bómbers, backpacks and college-style jackets. This is another form of approach, the collaboration of fashion, which can also be interesting for national talent: join forces with a powerful brand that multiplies the exhibition. It is a common movement in the industry but this time it translates into the particular approach of Bally to new audiences: this image and its values are identified with the youngest buyer. And using artists who adapt to these new tastes benefits both parties.
According to the artist, his idea was "to express that we can work freely and without limits", that the animal and creative spirit is loose. Swizz Beatz defends collaboration as a means of expression because the style is exactly that "and there is no problem in expressing yourself with art, music or fashion". The union with Cavolo was born "because he has that spirit and I connected with him, his colors, the eyes he draws ... fit Bally's quality garments". The collaboration is also framed in the line of joining luxury brands with urban aesthetics (Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Burberry have done it successfully), without doubt a way that fashion - and artists - will continue to explore in the future.
