Matix

INTERVIEW with Matix Design Director Mike Gomez

Interviewed by: Matt Bauer Web Editor

How long have you been at Matix and how did you end up there?
I’ve been here 8 1/2 years, so Mike Mo probably wasn’t even born yet.

How would you describe the working atmosphere at Matix?
We are usually behind schedule, crammed in a dark dungeon, and can faintly hear Daewon skating the park while we slave away on his next jean sample. Pretty glamorous shit.

Can you give us a brief overview of the Holiday 08 line?
The most awesomely good looking and durably constructed denim, chinos, jackets, sweaters, belts, wallets, bags, hoodies, wovens, knits, and socks the world has ever seen.

What is the process like when you pick the brains of your pros for their ideas on their new signature clothes?
Each guy is so different that the process is never quite the same. MJ is probably the most unpredictable, but at the same time the most detailed. Sometimes I get an email from him at 3am with a whole line of cool new shit thought out, then I don’t hear from him for 2 months, and then he pops in and we review and tighten up every single detail of his samples, then he disappears again.

What is the strangest piece of inspiration a pro has brought to the table?
Torey Pudwill usually comes with a sweet smelling stash of ideas.

What do you commonly look to for inspiration? Do you listen to a certain type of music to get your creative juices flowing?
I get pretty much all my ideas from the guys on the team. Our line is a reflection of their personal styles. We just take their style and build from there.

What was Mike Mo’s idea behind his new “Matix Mike Mo Asher Zip Up Hood”?
We actually just thought his texting addiction was pretty funny, so we pinned him down just long enough to get a few text samples from him…then we had to sort of make it PG rated cuz dude has some serious potty-mouth.

Do you think the average person will read the entire instant message conversation that lines the inside?
Hell yeah. I remember reading magazines from cover to cover back in my younger day. This is pretty easy reading.

What is the design process like from start to finish (brief overview)?
We usually start drawing a year before product arrives at shops, then we critique and hurt each other’s feelings, then samples show up and we make improvements upon improvements until we end up with the final range. It is a process that involves a lot of great people working real hard. Shout out to A Ramos.

How often do the pros come in with trash bags ready to raid the warehouse?
More like raid the latest sample rack….then my one and only sample in existence that disappeared resurfaces in a tour photo of one of the guys in your mag. It drives me crazy, but proud too I guess.

What is your favorite piece in this line?
Our signature Van Wastell flannel is probably most on our minds at the moment. He had Gonz draw the label artwork.

Can you give us any hints on what we should expect to see from Matix in 2009?
Loose lips sink ships.

Thanks for taking the time to let us into the design arena at Matix and explaining Mike Mo's addiction to text messaging.

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