DESIGNER CHRISTOPHER DE LA CRUZ
A gender fluid American designer from New York City studying/living in London at Central Saint Martins. Christopher just collaborated with Perfect Magazine and Tommy Hillfiger in preparation to launch a very special and new collection titled ‘Dream Boys’ and we are super excited!
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
As a designer and artist I feel like I can’t get inspired just by observing and reading about things. I am a lover of life and experiencing life to its fullest, I want to understand things more fully. Many of my influences come from strong females such as my close friends and strong female leads on tv shows. I also find myself inspired by Tommy Dorfman, Harry Styles, and Troye Sivan who are very comfortable and happy with expressing their sexuality.
Tell us a bit about your creative process and things you are looking forward to this year..
My creative process is personal. I reflect and question myself on what is currently relevant, and the things going on around me. When I began my collection ‘Dream Boys’ I had just finished watching the series “ It’s A Sin” that takes us back in time when AIDS had just hit the UK. The series starts beautifully with love, friendships and hope, and ends tragically in death. It reminded me of another film, called “ Dream Boy” that ended with death caused by a hate crime. Out of these thoughts, I felt really inspired to create my upcoming Dream Boys collection, to express this new time, where people can live with HIV and where we don’t have to live in fear of dying from a hate crime for being who we are.
How has this year changed your creativity?
This year has affected my creativity so much! Being stuck at home with just four walls and a window…it made me really think a lot about the past. Of course now people rely on social media and technology more than ever, that said I am seeing new forms of communication developing and more sustainable practices as well. The fashion industry has made changes, but we are all hoping that a shift to more sustainable practice in the industry becomes more of a norm rather than a luxury.
Who do you consider to be an icon of our time?
Hahaha who don’t I think is a icon! Honestly there’s so many people speaking up and being loud and making change that it makes me so happy that there are so many people to look up to. Lizzo, Harry styles, Tommy dorfman, Troy Sivan, Bimini from UK drag race!
Like actually she’s truly iconic, I saw her and was like girl! same and slay! Literally living!
Do you think the art world needs to change, and if so how can it be improved.
Studying at Central Saint Martins and having friends back home who go to FIT, Parsons and RISD I feel like our generation is changing art and we are going to change it no matter what. Not saying that there are specific changes needed to be made but change is continuously happening. Just watch this space.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Happiness. Wellbeing means to be happy in the mind. To love the people you surround yourself with and to love what you do. Happiness does not necessarily mean you are always smiling, it can mean you just feel comfortable. Essentially what I mean is that wellbeing for me, personally is being close to my supportive friends and family and working harder towards reaching my goals.
