Image courtesy of Loft Creative Group
After graduating from Parsons in 2018, Milwaukee emerging designer Elena Velez debuted her first NYFW presentation offering industrial utility, deconstructed looks with raw edges, a neutral palette, and sustainable textiles that have already adorned celebs like Solange Knowles, Kali Uchis, Arca, and Kim Petras. With her Brutalist leaning Spring 2022 collection titled, Year Zero – Rinascita, Velez re-purposed ship sails and steel beams, acrylic-treated leather, linen, denim, and PVC, while molding and conjoining sheer textiles fabrics within the framework of harsh, corseted metal lines. The show was a mix of body-conscious silhouettes and sculptural proportions distorting the outline of the body, with even shoes, designed by Morph Design Studio, extended past the expected frame. Collaborating with Milwaukee metalsmiths to repurpose steel beams, the latest offering binds hard and soft, flowy and unyielding, for a collection that pushes the boundaries of the dystopic utility of the future.
Image courtesy of Loft Creative Group
Image courtesy of Loft Creative Group
Image courtesy of Loft Creative Group
Image courtesy of Loft Creative Group
