Interviews

Instagram DMs with Marcelo Burlon

END. catches up exclusively with Marcelo Burlon over Instagram DMs to talk Milan, Virgil Abloh, and nightlife culture.

A founding member of fashion’s New Guard, Marcelo Burlon has shot to global reverence since debuting his electric streetwear label County of Milan in 2015. From a kingpin of international club culture to becoming a must-see fixture at Milan Fashion Week, Marcelo is the embodiment of new age multi-hyphenate creative, capable of turning his talent to whatever discipline he sets his mind to.

With the latest drop now live at END., we caught up Marcelo via Instagram DMs to learn more about the man and his mission. Delving below the surface, END. and Marcelo talk techno, tattoos, and Virgil making moves to LV. Check out our entire conversation and exclusive editorial below as we pull back the curtain at one of the world’s premier new-wave luxury labels.

Hey Marcelo! What's up?

All great, I'm ready for you!

Awesome - let's do it.

Where are you right now?

At my offices in Milan. Such a beautiful XVII Century building in the centre of the city.

Sounds cool - can you give us a tour?

Sure

Cool space

Repping the Raf, I see

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Always Raf

My mentor

What are you working on?

My resort collection.

Especially the NBA collab

Sounds sick! Can we get a preview?

LA Lakers!

What about you guys? What are you doing?

Shooting pre-fall 2018 County of Milan

Can I see?

You bet

Wow. Can't wait to see the final shots.

What were the main inspirations for the season's line?

For pre-fall it was about BMX racing from the 80s, mixed with horror movies from the early 90s

That's cool - what's your favourite scary movie?

SUSPIRIA by Dario Argento. Such an iconic movie.

There's a remake coming out soon by director Luca Guadagnino.

With a soundtrack composed by Thom Yorke from Radiohead

I'll make sure to look out for it

If you weren't designing or DJing, what do you think you'd be doing instead?

I guess I'd probably be a dancer or a yoga teacher.

Cool - what's the last song you listened to?

Great album

What decade do you think was the best in terms of style?

In my opinion it was the 90s. Maybe because I was a teenager and lived through it.

If you could bring back one item from the 90s, what would it be?

I wouldn't mind bringing back this silver jacket by Helmut Lang 1997

Great jacket! They did a reissue last season.

No way!

I missed that

https://blog.endclothing.com/helmut-lang-re-editions-capsule-collection-now-online/

Beautiful

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

YOU ARE YOUR OWN MAN

Best piece of advice you've ever given anyone else?

BE YOURSELF

Everyone else is taken, am I right!?

Exactly

What sneakers are you wearing today?

Today like yesterday and the day before that

Haha, Virgil can do no wrong

Indeed

Tell us something people might not know about you?

That I'm not straight?

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Kidding

That I'm a Buddhist from the Soka Gakkai for 25 years. It completely changed my life.

That's cool - does that link up with your yoga practice?

Yoga and Buddhism are two different disciplines, but both help you connect to your inner self.

Ah okay - and helps you stay grounded in a busy industry?

A lot actually - it gives me the balance I need.

Interesting.

Outfit change...

Looks cool!

You've travelled the world DJing - what's your favourite city?

I think Tokyo is the one.

It's a place for the quiet and the wild at the same time. I could sit in the street and watch the people walking by for hours. They have the best street style in the world.

Tokyo looks incredible. I've never visited, but our buying team always have cool stories from the city.

Talking about DJing, you've always had an anti-VIP attitude towards the club and fashion scenes - why is that important to you?

I like real people and to me everyone counts the same. Everyone is distinct.

Who's your favourite artist at the moment?

I like some of Teresa Margolles' photography, and some of Daniel Arsham's sculptures.

Cool - Daniel Arsham has done some sick collabs with adidas recently.

Most used emoji?

This one

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Haha, good choice!

What about collaborations - what would be your dream project?

I wouldn't mind collaborating with Virgin Airlines and wrap the planes with my graphics.

County of Milan takes to the skies

Last photo in your photo stream?

It's me

Haha

Looking good man - can we cop the branded helmet?

It's from an old collection

There's also an image of me and my fiancé

Where are the mountains?

Patagonia

Your hometown, right?

Right

Would you rather be lost at sea or lost in space?

Lost in space of course

I can't wait to meet the aliens and have an exchange

Now that would be a collab

Indeed

What does the world need more of?

Love

What does it need less of?

Hate

Favourite spot in Milan?

Fondazione Prada for sure

I just collaborated on a techno party in the courtyard. I love that place.

I know it - the restaurant is designed by Wes Anderson, right?

Yes, but there is a new tower that they just opened and it's amazing

Got any new tats lately?

Yes, a stoned Mickey Mouse

Haha no way! I got this last month.

Hahaha

Amazing

What designers have you been vibing with lately?

I love Martine Rose

We have her collab with Napapijri coming next season - excited for it to drop

What are your thought on Virgil for Louis Vuitton?

I think it's an amazing thing for our generation

Such a good move from LV to get Virgil

It'll be interesting to see what he does - it's a big deal for streetwear culture

Absolutely

Hip hop or metal?

Metal

Kidding

Hip hop for sure

Best hip hop artist of all time?

Tupac Shakur

If you had to describe County of Milan in a single sentence?

A meeting point between my past and my future

Can't wait to see more coming soon

Great to talk to you Marcelo - hopefully catch up next time we're in Milan!

That was fun! Thanks.

Let's dance!

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writerEuan Smart
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