At the Heart of the Arts
For three seasons now, the group show Art Hearts has closed New York Fashion Week at Lincoln Center, and this season was no exception. However this wasn’t just the last show for the season, it was also the last show of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week as we know it; when New York Fashion Week returns in the fall it will be without Mercedes Benz sponsoring it, and it will be at a new (and still undisclosed) venue. While Art Hearts brought down the curtain on the Lincoln Center era, instead of saying “the end” it would be more appropriate to say “to be continued,” as the show focused on new and bold designers who’s stories are just beginning. Among the seven designers showcased there was extremely smart menswear from House Of Byfield, luxury evening wear from Mimi Tran, chain-mail inspired dresses from Li Jon, and a show-closing burst of male nudity from MT Costello. The show is presented in conjunction with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, and at the center of it all is producer Erik Rosete. He isn’t just the ringmaster but also a participant, as his street wear brand Mister Triple X kicked off the show. We asked Erik about the meaning of Art Hearts, the motivation behind Mister Triple X, and what comes nextRAINE: Tell us about the genesis of Art Hearts, and how you go about selecting the designers.ROSETE: I created Art Hearts Fashion to support the artistic designers that celebrate the art of fashion. Anyone can make clothes, but my designers create ART! I am blessed by living in Los Angeles California where Art and Fashion go hand and hand. International designers gravitate toward Hollywood to supply red carpet and music video attire to A-List celebrities and I am connected enough in this industry to be introduced to extremely talented designers.RAINE: The Art Hearts show has been the closing show for New York Fashion week the past few seasons, how did that come to be that you got that slot?ROSETE: I worked with IMG years ago as a model manager and I was producing Art Hearts Fashion in Los Angeles as a cool underground event with artistic designers. I realized that NYC was missing my heart so I decided to bring my event to the big apple. I planned on having Art Hearts Fashion at a platform called Style 360 that featured streetwear brands and figured that would be a good fit for my type of event. Unfortunately (fortunately) Superbowl came to the NYC area last year and NYC had one of the harshest winters in history. Style 360 got cancelled and I had nowhere to go. I made a few calls and contacted IMG asking if they had space for my event. They not only had space for it but they also gave me the closing show at their largest venue.RAINE: Besides Art Hearts, you also have your own label, Mister Triple X. The collection this season was titled “All X In Wonderland” and you describe it as edgy street-wear. But how much is too much? How do you walk the line between being creative and edgy but still being wearable? ROSETE: In the process of creating my event I realized that fashion was more than an industry, but it was such a powerful art form. I wanted to do something different with fashion, I wanted to tell my story. Mister Triple X was born from my hard work and a true labor of love. Every season I have had hidden meaning in my collections, from the start “The Reflexion ColleXion” was a tribute to the world around me in my belief that we are all reflections of each other and that I was able to reflect all of the negative energy I had experienced and turn it positive. My follow up collection was entitled the RessereXion Collection which featured floral prints and spiritual undertones representing my spiritual transformation. Last season I showcased my “Pair-A-Dice” Collection featuring tropical inspired prints and also representing the huge gamble I was taking in rolling the dice on my career and my event. The gamble paid off and now with my most recent collection titled “All X In Wonderland” I wanted to showcase how everything has come together in a funky fantastic way by expressing my current attitudein my collection. Follow me down the rabbit hole through the magical world of Mister Triple X. I believe we are all on a crazy journey and my brand represents the sexy streetstyle I would want everyone in my world to be wearing. This is my journey through wonderland and everyone can relate to that because we are all on a journey through life, and I love being able to tell the story through my fashion brand. It is something that has never been done with fashion and something that I am very proud of.RAINE: For the MTX runway shows you’ve used some people outside the fashion- model norm, including really muscular guys and people covered in tattoos. How do you go about choosing the models?ROSETE: I love using unconventional models as well as pop-culture celebrities to help tell my story. These are all the characters of the magical story of Mister Triple X. War veteran Amputee Alex Minsky walks in my shows with a custom designed leg by me, Jimmy Q embraces the sexy edge I embrace with my fashion line.. I want all of my models to be Gods and Goddesses in their own right, and I would like people to celebrate and admire the human physique while wearing my clothes. The girls in my shows represent the sexy counterpart to the “Mister’s” in the show. I have been blessed to work with Jourdan Miller, Nadia Mejia, Colleen Shannon, Anna Demidova, and an endless list of female icons that empower women to be their best. From winning America’s Next Top Model to being the star of their own TV shows on major networks, these girls are ruling the world. My models are all people that work their asses off to get in top shape and master their craft. I don’t need the skinny anorexic waif models to tell my story, I would much rather have a super sexy costume party called “Mister Triple X”RAINE: What’s next for Mister Triple X? What’s waiting further down the rabbit hole?ROSETE: World Domination is on my bucket list. Love what you do and do it well! The rest will follow. I am excited to have just opened my first boutique at Hollywood and Highland, the most popular retail destination in Hollywood and next door to Louis Vuitton. My clothing is being featured on major television networks in the next few months and will be seen by millions. I am feeling blessed and grateful to have such amazing support from my super sexy models and friends. I believe that everyone plays an important role in our story, and I hope to encourage other designers and artists to tell their stories as well. My platform is all about sharing my stage with others, and my brand is all about my interpretation of our life’s journey. Follow me down the rabbit hole, and find yourself in the process! You never know what magical things you might discover about yourself and the world around you.