Johnny Mesq, Ibiza’s best-known designer of tribally inspired clothes for global nomads.
When you travel the world, you bring things back with you. They might be keepsakes, they might be memories, they might be new friends. If, however, you are Venezuelan-born fashion designer Johnny Mesquida you bring inspiration, and you take that inspiration and work it into your clothing designs. Always searching for new materials and patterns, new ‘tribal influences’ as he calls them, Johnny returns from his travels and sets to work in his Sant Lorenzo workshop, producing everything from his signature beach pants to his new women’s and kid’s ranges.
“I source my South American fabrics in Barcelona,” Johnny tells us. “In New Delhi I get my best checks and striped fabrics. And also USA where I get my Native American Navajo inspired prints. Now I am starting to source fabric in Italy as well. Ninety percent of my material is pure cotton and sometimes I use linen, denim, and rayon. I’m preparing a winter collection with Italian vintage wools and cotton fabrics.”
Obviously, travel is vital to Johnny’s work. “My collections represent a kaleidoscope of colours and styles inspired by the people I’ve met and the diverse cultures I’ve experienced on my travels around the world,” he says. “I search extensively to find original materials to create exclusive designs. Ibiza reflects the energy of the brand representing tribal influences, colours of the world and an energy of vibrancy and good life living.”
With the launch of his website, plus his design of the signature uniform for the staff at La Paloma restaurant it is quite incredible Johnny has time for anything else, but there is more. His designs were first shown at the Atzaro 15th Anniversary Fashion Show on July 30th 2019 (where Johnny had his first catwalk show!) and, to top it all off, the Johnny Mesq Autumn/Winter collection 2020 was launched at a special event later in 2019 summer.