Exclusive interview with Jaime Álvarez, founder of Mans Concept Menswear

We had the marvelous opportunity to interview Jaime Álvarez, founder and creative director of Mans Concept Menswear, a prêt-à-porter and custom tailoring brand influenced by ‘Saville Row’ workshops as well as by the Japanese technique. Both of these are included in every single collection, joining traditional techniques with an avant-garde aesthetic.

Jaime Álvarez is 24 years old and was born in La Luisiana (Sevilla) and in 2017 finishes his fashion studies in the Istituto Europeo Di Design (IED Madrid). From a very young age, he starts to get interested in the artistic world, which will lead to fashion.

Since I was a child I had this need to create clothes and to dress people.

His first intention was to work in womenswear but as he discovered menswear he thought he could contribute more to this side of the fashion industry.

It was in my second year of college when I saw a fairly big gap between the more eccentric design and the more conventional suits in terms of men’s fashion. There I saw that I could contribute something new without losing the traditions.

The name Mans Concept comes from Demans, one of Jaime’s surnames which has a German origin. Shortening to ‘Mans’ it points out to the search for a new tailoring, more personal and updated.

He proposes new approaches to masculinity and its features. The traditional and classical references to tailoring fuse with young subcultures, making very playful and opposed elements to create balance.

I think I make clothes that fit anyone and you can really see them in all genres.

The brand’s main aim is to offer a whole hybrid wardrobe with basic high-quality and versatile pieces with a progressive style for confident people.

We asked him about his latest release, the Spring/Summer 2021, which he says he is in love with it and that ‘It was a little trip to French Impressionism, its colors and textures, which have helped me to establish more key garments in the evolution of Mans.’

In addition, we asked him for a little tease of the next collection to what he responded: ‘The next collection is inspired by the Slim Aarons world. It is the first time that we make our prints based in the idealization that the American photographer made about the society, is a collection inspired by different cultures, DNA of Slim who photographed all over the world.’

To conclude this interview and as we always like to do, we asked Jaime if he could give a piece of advice to our readers. This way we encourage young artists, designers and models to achieve their dreams, and it is really important for young people to have support and tips for them to feel confident. Here is what he said:

All I can say is to never stop trying and fighting for your dream. To achieve something you have to be constant and get little rest.

Q: What made you become a fashion designer? 

A: I don’t remember very well. Since I was a child I had this need to create clothes and to dress people. It was in my second year of college when I saw a fairly big gap between the more eccentric design and the more conventional suits in terms of men’s fashion. There I saw that I could contribute something new without losing the traditions.

Q: What does inspire you in order to create new pieces?

A: I am inspired by many things, from places of my childhood to current places, kids I see on the street and like. When I see them, I think about what I could do to dress them and so many clothes come out…

Q: You have a pretty unique style, using different shapes and cuts. How would you define your style?

A: I think I make clothes that fit anyone and you can really see them in all genres.

Q: What does masculinity mean to you and how do you see it reflected in fashion? 

A: I will define it as a very timeless and classic style but reverted and adapted to the present.

Q: Can you tell us more about the background of your last collection?

A: I’m in love with the last collection, it was a little trip to French Impressionism, its colors and textures, which have helped me to establish more key garments in the evolution of Mans.

Q: And can you tease something exclusively for us about the next collection?

A: Yes, the next collection is inspired by the Slim Aarons world. It is the first time that we make our prints based in the idealization that the American photographer made about the society, is a collection inspired by different cultures, DNA of Slim who photographed all over the world. 

Q: Which is your biggest dream as a fashion designer? 

A: I would love to continue with my brand and be hired by a fashion house as creative director.

Q: How do you see the evolution of fashion? Does it really evolve or are we going backwards, as for example using 80s trends?

A: Currently I see it very fortified and part of that fortification is in mixing trends, from different times and trends from different places. If fashion drank only from the future, it would be quite boring.

 Q: Would you give any kind of advice to young designers and to our readers?

A: All I can say is to never stop trying and fighting for your dream. To achieve something you have to be constant and get little rest.

Exclusive interview for Vanity Teen online!