MARC ECKO EN NEO2

ENTREVISTA NEO2 NÚMERO DICIEMBRE: MARC ECKO, MUCHO MÁS QUE UNA MARCA STREETWEAR

Hablamos con Marc Ecko, uno de los nombres más influyentes en el estilo de la cultura urbana contemporánea. Mucho más que una marca de ropa, Marc Ecko Enterprises, MEE, ha creado en solo 13 años un universo que abarca no solo marcas y líneas de sport y street wear como Ecko Unltd, Marc Ecko Cut & Sew, Avirex, Zoo York, Red by Marc Ecko, G-Unit, sino también publicaciones como Complex Magazine. Publicamos aquí la entrevista en versión original, ingles (en el número de diciembre de Neo2 encontrarás la entrevista traducida y más fotos).

How would you define yourself? Artist, curator and serial entreupreneur. What does the Rhino, Marc Ecko’s logo, symbolize? The Rhino is a survivor.  It moves ahead.  It has a clumsey grace about him. How has changed young fashion market in this thirteen years of Marc Ecko as a brand? Everything about EVERYTHING in this World has changad over the last 13 years…the last 13 months.  I am constantly on my toes.  I have learned to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  The biggest change is that geography has been exploded by the Internet.  It is not where you are “from”, it is where you are “at”.  I just CAME back from Shanghai, China—and even there, youth want to explore, and seek change—even in a communist country.  The World is a changing place. It is as small as it has ever been. Your brand is bound to hip hop culture. How do you see evolution of the hip hop culture since you were a child until today? Have we lost anything in the way? It’ s still current hip hop culture or young people need another new young movement? My brand is not “bound” to anything.  I started with painting and art.  If I am bound to anything, I am bound to an unapologetic pursuit to create something from nothing.  Hip-Hop was that challenge and paradigm 15 years ago— the last 5 years it has been technology and social networks and web media— I believe we are in a cycle back to visual arts.  Emerging marketings…B.R.I.C.—Brazil, Russia, India and China are booming with the arts amongst young people.  This Hill effect global pop culture.  It is the new hip-hop—the new NON-VERBAL punk rock movement.

Isn’t it a bit stressing to have a brand with your own name? Doesn’t it takes you to a little crisis of personality to have a brand named as yourself? If someone doesn’t like ecko pants, do you feel that person doesn’t like the person you are? No.  I don’t get personal or emotional about that.  People don’t like you sometimes, with or without a business.  That is a bit silly logic really.  In this day and age, where everyone throws out their opinions—you can’t get upset.That is human nature.  No one has ever been loved by all, not even Jesús—no one. You’ve created some brands, bought others, generated licenses of products, you’ve also created a magazine and a videogames company… why do you complicate so much your life? there is so much need of diversification these days? That is a sad question.  Very cynical really.  Since when is doing creative things you love “complicated”?   Maybe it is complicated to do nothing? No?  There is less a need to be diversified as much a need to do things that make you happy and drive innovation.  Apple only really does 2 or 3 things over, and over, and over again.  That model is a model of iteration. There are different ways of iterating.  Sometimes add on to something and hone, other times destroy it and rebuild.  Whatever suits you and the idea is the best way to slice it.

You collaborate with other artists as Spike Lee. But, have you ever thought about collaborating with other fashion designers, designers who are in mediatic fashion events and love fashion stylists? Sure.  I Intend to actually do many collaborations this year with other artist/ designers.  Great vibes! How do you see catwalk and prêt a porter’s world? People used to say High Couture were image campaigns for selling Prêt a Porter and accesories later. Are Prêt a Porter parades used as a an image campaign to sell colognes and for the Outlets? I believe catwalk and runway shows are very 1900’s way of marketing.  The business model, of spending all that effort and Money for 15 minutes seems really silly.  Particularly when marketing to younger people, who may be cynical of Duch a World.  I find runway shows, which I have done over the years, very self indulgent and somewhat irrevelevant.  That is my personal opinión. In that moment, you were the youngest member in the Council of Fashion Designers of America. What benefits does it gives to you belonging to it? I am an agitador.  I am lobbying the group to acknowledge the broader accomplishments and design aesthetics of the sport and street scene.  I believe in the organization, but we need to be more inclusive to stay relevant. MEE is also involved in social causes like saving the rhinos, the creation of orphanages… shouldn’t that be done with our taxes? ¿??? I don’t understand the question.  You are very cynical aren’t you.  Americans do contribute with their taxes.  We also contribute through personal and private funds as well.   You should contribute or assist wherever and however you can in life.  Life need not be defined by the things you own or make, but by the changes you create and the people you assist.

Globalization, free market… in fashion field it can be translated as too much competition, small profit margins, a market limited to be shared among a growly number of brands. Do you believe there is a free market or it must be regulated to protect what already exists? Competition is good, but, so much competition as we have today is good as well? Travel.  Travel. Travel. The World is shrinking. Our economies have swallowed one big laxative.  Innovation will be rewarded.  Frugality will be rewarded.  Competing with ideas, and not just dollars will be rewarded. World’s economy is changing, in which way will change or is changing fashion? everything.  New emerging middle classes amongst giant populations will create so much opportunity, and will challenge the role of luxury brands.  You will see a retraction of size amongst luxury brands around the World—as new markets create the middle. Where does MEE produce? All over the World.  From Prato, Italy to Mexico City.  From Banglor to Beijing.