Patrik Ervell

Patrik Ervell seems to have mastered the typical role of a high profile designer: he has a number of award nominations under his belt, his clothes are worn by celebrities and he’s represented by one of the most prestigious showrooms in New York. But the Swedish born, California raised designer has not always been an industry insider. After studying international relations at the University of California, Berkeley, Patrik Ervell moved to New York City to take the Foreign Service exam. Somehow he arrived at the conclusion that diplomacy wasn’t for him, so he chose to take an editorial position at V magazine.

In 2005, Patrik Ervell applied his artistic sensibilities to designing several graphic t-shirts for the ultra-cool SoHo retailer Opening Ceremony. After fine-tuning his skills at Parsons, he crafted his first complete collection and won the 2007 Ecco Domani Award for Menswear. Wearability, expert tailoring, and innovation in both fabric and structure have come to define Patrik Ervell’s collections. While every piece is youthful and minimalistic at the core, Patrik Ervell loves to incorporate unexpected details like contrasting club collars on shirts and horsehair straps on backpacks.

For Fall '11, Patrik Ervell focused on militarism as a primary influence. The presentation took place in front of several massive parachutes, and key pieces included M65 style field jackets and thick over-shirts complete with double chest pockets. The color palate consisted of rich greys, blacks and navys, and Patrik Ervell was not afraid to experiment with shiny technical fabrics and vintage-inspired, cropped tops.