<p>Blending subversive tailoring and experimental textures is fashion designer Kelvin Morales&rsquo; forte. Still, more than his clear-cut visuals, it&rsquo;s the statement he&rsquo;s making that matters.</p>

<p><em>This story originally appeared in L'Officiel Philippines' December 2021 print issue.</em></p>
<p>A mishmash of all things texturally and conceptually curious is to be expected in every Kelvin Morales piece. This is the same young designer who, after all, created an entire collection based on his interest in the pliancy of human flesh: what if our skin could be used as material for clothing, accusatory whispers of cannibalism be damned? What would it look like in the modern day? How would wearing it feel?</p>
<p>Tough questions, but that was a year ago. Now, Morales has shifted his focus onto a subject that is perhaps more conscious than macabre &mdash; the effects of toxic waste on the earth. The designer&rsquo;s latest collection, titled <em>Hazard Blue</em>, is an exploration on the dark consequences of humanity&rsquo;s neglect towards the environment. Here, <em>L&rsquo;Officiel Philippines</em> brainpicks Morales&rsquo; creative process and his determination to shed light on what&rsquo;s really important.</p>

<h4><strong>So what's it been like designing and creating during a pandemic?</strong></h4>
<p>I think we adapted easily because we were focusing on ready-to-wear pieces, so it became easier to process and dispatch orders to my clients. But, the [erratic] lockdowns definitely affected scheduling and materials sourcing.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<h4><strong>Could you walk us through your creative process?</strong></h4>
<p>When I&rsquo;m making a collection, my creative process includes a lot of research. I make multiple storyboards for the mood, fabrics, silhouettes, and colors of a collection, but I also make one defining, [overarching] mood board that showcases the roots of the whole collection. It helps me visualize a cohesive collection and get on track, because making a collection is very overwhelming to say the least, and stressful. When you look at my past collections, they always tell a story. There is always a narrative involved. For me, it&rsquo;s an effective way to translate the energy I want to give off, which helps make my work understandable and digestible.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><strong>Let's talk about your latest collection. What were your inspirations for it?</strong></h4>
<p><em>Hazard Blue</em> is about future dystopia. I&rsquo;ve studied and observed that people are getting genetically deformed because of toxic chemical exposure.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This questions our actions as causes of this current pandemic and other calamities we&rsquo;re experiencing. I want to ultimately bring light and consciousness to the toxic waste and pollution brought about by our careless mindset.&nbsp;I took inspiration from that concept and translated it through pieces with futuristic tailoring and a semi-rugged appeal.&nbsp;</p>
<p></p>
<h4><strong>Your pieces often feature an interesting, experimental mix of textures, fabrics and classic menswear tailoring. What drew you to this blend?</strong></h4>
<p>I like things to have a focal point and balance. My sources of inspiration come from various aspects of life, a blend often revolving around dark and atypical stories. I use them to translate my visions and curiosities into thought-provoking and exciting clothing.</p>

<h4><strong>Could you tell us more about your brand? How did it begin? What are your dreams for it?</strong></h4>
<p>Kelvin&nbsp;Morales is a contemporary and experimental Filipino fashion brand that focuses on artistic narratives and peculiar forms in clothing. We offer creative, high-quality garments that break barriers, disputing society&rsquo;s idealized beauty standards.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Kelvin Morales &mdash; the brand &mdash; was actually my thesis project. Then, after I graduated, I developed it into a clothing label, handling both the design and business sides full-time. One of our main goals is to be a global brand. It&rsquo;s the reason why our trade name logo looks like a kilometer symbol. We want to move and introduce our brand to other cultures and consumers.&nbsp;</p>

<h4><strong>How has your work evolved along with your own personal growth?</strong></h4>
<p>The creative and aesthetic process is continuous, and it evolves with us as time goes on. Right now, my focus as a contemporary designer is to innovate and consistently offer something new in the industry.</p>
<h4><strong>What are your current influences? What's inspiring you right now?</strong></h4>
<p>Honestly, in this pandemic, I&rsquo;m just learning to focus on things that give me peace of mind, surrounding myself with the light and good energy that&rsquo;s reminiscent of my childhood.</p>

Kelvin Morales Plays Check and Balance

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