Elena Velez

Described by Vogue as a "unique take on deconstruction,[16] Velez's current work is inspired by the historic craftsmanship and manufacturing legacy of the American rustbelt and is the product of collaboration with local metalsmith artisans to revisit the regional craft.[17] Central themes in her work include deconstruction,[18] unconventional femininity,[19] and alternative construction methods, which include "salvaged" and "site-specific materiality".[20] Velez coins her visual identity as "aggressively delicate".[21] Of Puerto Rican heritage[18] but raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Velez claims in recent interviews that the "industrial" nature of her "nontraditional upbringing" as the only child to a single mother who is a ship's captain on the Great Lakes influenced her current artistic identity, which she says draws heavily on "the relationship between femininity and force".[22] With a beginning interest in design from early childhood, the first documentation of her developments appear in local TV news as a teenager in 2010.[23]

Velez studied at Parsons Paris from 2013 to 2015 and graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2018[24] with a BFA in fashion design and minor in creative entrepreneurship.[1] Additionally in 2020 she received a Graduate Diploma in fashion design from Central Saint Martins in London.[1] Her BFA thesis collection was shown at VFILES Season 10 Runway,[16] and London Fashion Week, as a guest of the Swedish Fashion Council.[25] In 2019 Velez's work was exhibited as a Teen Vogue 2019 Generation Next designer curated by Editor in Chief of Vogue Magazine's Anna Wintour, and Editor in Chief of NY Magazine's The Cut, Lindsey Peoples Wagner as “a designer representing the future of fashion”.[26] Her work has received coverage in Business of Fashion,[27][28] Women's Wear Daily,[29] WGSN,[30] Vogue,[31] Vogue Runway,[16] i-D Magazine,[12] Dazed,[32] Numero Berlin,[2] Paper Magazine,[18] Office Magazine,[21] CFDA,[33] Schön!,[34] CNN Style,[35] Telemundo,[36] Refinery29,[37][38] The Wall Street Journal,[39] Forbes,[40] Harpers Bazaar,[41] and New York Times The Cut.[42][43]

In February, 2021, Elena Velez Industries Inc. was founded with investment support from venture capital firms Gener8tor, and CSA Partners.[44] The company was subsequently featured in Forbes for its work with Midwestern makers and mission to "democratize resources and recognition" for artists outside of traditional creative capitals.[40]

Elena Velez with Anna Wintour and Lindsay Peoples Wagner, 2019

• CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Award, New York 2022 [45]
• Teen Vogue Generation Next, New York 2019 [46]
• VFILES Season 10 Runway, New York 2018 [47]
• Swedish Fashion Council CTF Award, London 2018 [48]

• Year 1 - Maidenhood And Its Labors, 2022 [49]
• Year 0 - Rinascita, 2021 [50]
• Homecoming, 2019 [51]
• Vessel, 2019 [19]
• _And Carry On, 2018 [20]