Collection Survey: Outsiders Division Find Freedom In Colliding Fashion And Art

What began as an accessories project headed by David Méndez Alonso in 2012, has since become a combined effort in combining things. Alberto Perancho and Ales Gallifa joined the team in 2017 and helped to push Outsiders Division into a full scale fashion project that explores fashion’s relationship with art and contradictions in freedom. Inspired by joy and punk, graffiti and cinema, they produce artful collections that genuinely feel different.

Their new collection, ‘Ocasiones Especiales’, imagines how counter cultures are dressing up for their big important dos. Curious, we hit them with our Collection Survey to find out a bit more.

Name: Outsiders Division.

Starsign: Libra

Where are you from and where do you live now?
We come from northern Spain and Madrid. We’re a Barcelona based brand.

Any personal beliefs or values that are meaningful to your work?
Outsiders Division is a brand that celebrates the concept of ‘joy’ and trying to find the best version of yourself. Our designs are dedicated to the child who lives inside of us, to those who never stop dreaming. We consider ourselves as ‘sensitive boys’, that means we have the ability to feel and talk about our emotions and turn errors into beauty.

For this collaboration, we have been in touch with Stephen Tayo to put lots of ideas together. We packed our bags with the collection and, together with the stylist Rebeca Sueiro, who is part of our team, travelled to Lagos to embrace the photographs of Stephen. The images talk about the world and Stephen’s daily view, where he dignifies the normality and beauty of working in Lagos and his own vision of fashion.

Can you tell me a little bit of background on the collection and label — any inspirations, references, important collaborations?
All of us have a design and art background. Our references are delusions between cinema, art, punk, graffiti and brutalism. We are curious to discover and play with any fields and white surfaces, and to have the opportunity to work for different fashion labels. We have been in touch with painters, photographers, musicians, directors and people in many other artistic fields.

This collection is dedicated to all of the ‘Specials Occasions’, it’s a tribute to a new elegance — with a huge influence of 1950 and old school teddy boys. We were imagining how our outsiders would like to dress for their best occasions.

If you could describe the collection in five words?
Rebellion, worldwide, colour, dreams, fantasy.

If the collection was a colour: Purple

If it was a mood: Gucci Mane meets Morrissey

If it was an animal: Frog

If it was a language: Spanish

If it was a place: The deepest place inside of you

If it was a time: 1982

If it was a song: ‘Sugar Kane’, Sonic Youth

If it was a season: Always spring

If it was a food: Olive oil

If it was a famous person: Pippi Langstrump

If it was a YouTube video:

If it was a smell: Weed, the smell of May

If it was a texture: Velvet

If it was a quote: “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

If it was a film: Home Alone, John Hughes / Brazil, Terry Gilliam / Blade Runner, Ridley Scott