Taking menswear to another dimension, Alex Mattsson is the first instalment in our new series giving an insi-Der’s view on fashion’s finest talents.
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Half Swedish, half Colombian, half extraterrestrial, RCA trained Alex Mattsson makes future menswear. Right now, he’s listening to Major Lazer’s ‘Get Free‘ working in the studio. Later he’ll stop by Costcutter for some fine dining produce and on the way home, think about how much Brick Lane looks like another planet and its cruisers like aliens. He thinks these things because he has a really fun brain, which also has waves about clothes, colours and cuts, and makes him a quite brilliant menswear designer, ahead of his time. In anticipation of his presentation at London Collection: Mens, i-D online asked Alex to send us some pictures of his studio and share some thoughts from that big fun brain…
Can you describe yourself in 140 characters? Spawned in Gothenburg 84, Grew up in Oslo. Childhood fashion icon was Snoop Dogg. First memory of London was a bloke trying to sell me a laptop. 145 characters. #Rebel
Where do you live and where do you buy your groceries? I’ve been living in Brick Lane for the last couple of years. Makes for excellent people watching. Weekends in particular. Sometimes I feel like I’m from another planet when walking up Brick Lane on my way back from the studio. If I’m feeling lazy I buy my groceries from Costcutter’s. The narrow selection make the products appear carefully curated and the higher prices makes me feel like I’m treating myself.
How does London inspire you? London is a miniature world. A microclimate that caters for any culture, interest, taste and orientation. I feel creatively free here. Some cities have a certain aesthetic or taste that influences the creatives situated there, whereas London is down for whatever. That’s inspiring.
Dawn till dusk, could you describe a day in the studio at the moment? Bus to studio. Open first RedBull. Email for an hour or so. Greet the interns. Pour RedBull down their throats to get them going then give them something to get on with while I sew or do patterns. Lunch out in the courtyard if the weather allows it. More work, loud music and lols. Interns leave. I keep going till late. That’s the routine.
How much do the opinions of others affect the work you do? Depends on who it’s coming from. If it’s from someone I respect in terms of taste and style it affects my work a great deal. I suppose you have to curate the advice and opinions you get into something that agrees with your vision and could evolve your work.
Where would he Alex Mattsson man take us on a day trip in London? Day trip to Ace Café for motorbikes, wheelies, beards and middle aged men in leather. Then go and see Channel One sound system in Brick Lane for some full body resonance and herbal inspiration.
What’s now? Don’t know. You’re the cool lifestyle/fashion magazine! You tell me.
What’s next? Hopefully a lovely summer. Evolution and growth in my work and a dog.
Alex Mattsson presents his SS13 collection as part of London Collections: Men this weekend with the help of RedBull, giving wings to make platforms for young designer and emerging talent possible.
Text: Sarah Raphael
Photography: Alex Mattsson
See more from our insi-De eye series here.
