Elena Velez’s Wasteland Heroines

February 16, 2023

Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and focused on “romanticized abstractions of Middle America”, designer Elena Velez continues to examine American subcultures through favored archetypes of “wasteland heroines” from the Midwest over the typical and tired depiction of “the glamorous American woman." For Elena Velez’s latest fashion show this week, titled “YR003: HOWS MY DRIVING?,” the 2022’s Emerging Designer of the Year Award winner referenced “agrarian brutalism, puritanical cults, and disorderly anabaptist youths."

Elena held the show around the corner from her studio in Greenpoint, bringing the fashion set from the stereotypical venues often visited during fashion week. Refreshingly anti-traditional, Elena had Tei Shi, Eartheater, Siiickbrain and Mia Carucci walk the runway. Transforming the usual runway into performance art through theatrical, emotive model walks, and generally making bold, hyper-stylized statements with her shows, Elena brings something interesting and meaningful to NYFW and the CDFA — dismissing elitism and perfectionism, and making room for what else exists outside coastal, major metropolitan life.

Text by Audry Hiaoui
Photos by Matthew Weinberger

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Backstage: Rombaut SS25

July 01, 2024

Last week in Paris, ROMBAUT didn't just tread the runway lightly. Their Spring-Summer 2025 collection celebrated the Belgian brand's 10-year anniversary, highlighting its journey from humble beginnings to avant-garde prominence.

The SS25 collection, aptly named “PATH,” encapsulated ROMBAUT's journey through struggle, growth, and enlightenment. Drawing inspiration from Shaolin Kung Fu, the collection balanced body, mind, and spirit, merging Zen Buddhist and Taoist philosophies with physical resilience. This narrative of self-improvement, kindness, and environmental care showcased the brand's unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility and social consciousness.

After a 4-month hiatus in 2023, founder Mats Rombaut returned to a fashion landscape dominated by A.I., violence, and waning religious influence. Yet, amidst these challenges, ROMBAUT found hope and meaning in creating objects that tell stories. View our backstage photos below.