ALTU x Alvin Baltrop Celebrate New York City's Queer Culture

December 19, 2022

For the first time, ALTU, Joseph Altuzarra's 'genderful' brand, is memorializing the iconic work of Alvin Baltrop, the late Bronx-born photographer known for breaking ground known for documenting NYC's underground gay and queer culture in the '70s and '80s.

Baltrop's historic and personal photography is screen-printed onto ALTU's quintessential staples; cropped leather jackets, oversized leather pants, hoodies and crewnecks. In hopes of bringing Baltrop's work to the forefront, ALTU's mission is to also spark conversation of the importance of the LGBTQ+ community through collaborations and projects.

This capsule highlights some of Baltrop's lesser-known and remarkable images. Erotic nudes and subversive city scenes can be seen throughout the collection. In addition to acknowledging marginalized communities, Baltrop documents physical margins of where NYC's underground gay and queer communities took refuge.

Text by Marisa Kalil-Barrino
Photography by Ryan McGinley

Altuzarra helped come up with this collection through the lens of creative and gender expression. ALTU embraces style that can be traditionally masculine or feminine, but worn by anyone. ALTU, as well as this collaboration, portrays the plurality of one's identity throughout the spectrum.

Baltrop is most known for his Piers Series. Here, he captured the dangers of the LGBTQ+ community through their creative and sexual explorations on the waterfront between Greenwich and Chelsea. While he remained an underground photographer for the remainder of his life, he died in 2004 while most of his work and subjects remained unknown.

“I discovered Alvin Baltrop’s work a little over ten years ago, and was struck then, as I am now, by the poignancy and power of his work. Part historical, part autobiographical, his photographs brim with raw sensuality and eroticism, yet are also full of tenderness and love," Altuzarra says. "They are deeply touching and affecting, and I am so honored to celebrate Alvin Baltrop’s work in this special collection.”

In partnership with Third Streaming, ALTU aims to bring light, as well as fund preservation for the Alvin Baltrop Trust Legacy Projects. The collection is available for purchase on altu.world.

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April 23, 2024

In the wake of significant challenges including the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war which has heavily impacted production and logistics, Syndicate continues to innovate by integrating themes of survival, resilience, and the complex emotions involved in modern relationships. The collection features bold, thematic elements such as textual prints derived from real-life break-up phrases embodying the irony and emotional depth of contemporary dating narratives.

Some of the collection prints were created in collaboration with Magalie Heroux — a London-based graphic designer, the "Dating Olympics" collection employs a mix of early 2000s aesthetics with simple, impactful fonts and ironic slogans, capturing a nostalgic yet fresh vibe. The use of heat-reactive techniques further enriches the tactile experience, emphasising the warmth and connection that are essential to human interaction.

Text Alex Blake
Photography Vidar Logi
Styling Ira Vasylevska & Magalie Heroux
Casting & Production Andriy Zozulya, Taras Schevchuk
Hair Ruth Javy
Makeup Martina de Rosa
Models Sleeze McQueen, Dylan Proudfoot, Olive Harvey
Assistant Tony Poly

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With this collection, Syndicate not only addresses the hardships faced by many due to the current geopolitical situation but also celebrates the enduring human spirit to love and connect, even in times of adversity. The "Dating Olympics" is more than a fashion statement—it's a testament to the resilience and adaptability of love.