Michael Herrera creates a modern day renaissance with his designs.

By: Mitra Asgarinik

Michael "M" Herrera's dream is to "shed light into the hearts and soul of individuals, uniting them through fashion, art, film, and music" (MtheMovement.com).

He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, where he also taught for three years. A patron of all art forms, M launched his fashion career in 1999, where he opened Design Lab, a graphic design shop that offered screen printing, fashion merchandising, and graphics. Today, he designs for multiple companies including Vodafone, Ferrari, and Mercedes Benz. Ultimately, he is known for his newest line, ?The Movement?, which features unisex luxury designer denim street wear. The line is eco-friendly, which M prides himself on, and features quality materials from all over the world. It is a brand that ?joins comfort and beauty with a heartfelt message of unity, equality, and education through art? (MtheMovement.Com). The line features earthy colors and chic designs, and of course, his signature screen tees which feature his philosophy in a graffiti-esque style: ?The Movement is born. The new world thinker knows what is and feels what isn?t. Strong enough to be weak promoting individualism without separatism. The new world thinker is lesser than God, greater than man, inspired by art.? His philosophy is also embroidered on inner pocket linings.

M and his team of intellectuals, artists, film directors, musicians, and choreographers have begun an awesome line and are combining their creativity for the upcoming future, which promises stationary, gifts, and furniture. ?I want to take this international? M told me, ?We plan to take this all the way.? The world is excited for the amazing goodies in store. Currently, M is working on a new spring line which will be different from his current Movement. The last collection was based on his travels, and the upcoming will feature the hipster scene in Los Angeles. As an Aquarius and Pises, M has a creative personality and has ?ever-changing ideas? which show in his work; the art scene anticipates for what he comes up with next. I personally cannot wait for Michael Herrerra?s designs to grow. He is an innovator who has much to offer to the fashion world, art world, and all of humanity.

Q and A with M:

Mitra: What inspired you to get into fashion Design?

M: I want to promote my philosophy; words are not enough. Fashion is commercial, and must be run through a business to promote it. Being underground won?t help people.

Mitra: Where do you go to get inspiration for your designs?

M: The streets of L.A.

Mitra: I read on your website that your dream is to ?unite individuals through fashion, art, film, and music?. Besides your designs, have you created other art media?

M: Yes. We?re working on a film right now with Lion?s Gate about The Movement, serendipity, destiny and how the certain people you meet in life serves as a purpose. I have written music myself, but not recorded yet. Some songs are put together already through a laptop. The things I do myself, I do. I intend to make [music] pretty much like another career. I have to launch this fashion career first. I also do intend to get into the arts, like interior design.

M at Fashion week.

Photo courtesy of Michael Herrera.

Mitra: The word ?urban? has a different connotation to different people. Your current line is referred to as urban. What does this word mean to you and how does it show in your designs?

M: Urban means The Movement. It is aimed at both men and women and features premium fabrics. The line resembles those like Mike and Chris, Diesel, and Dolce and Gabanna. It?s lower tier, but still high end. It?s more street skate with street pop colors.

Mitra: What do you think is a ?Fashion Don?t??

M: Well, pretty much a ?fashion don?t? is something you would normally not wear. If you?re comfortable, you can pull it off because it?s you. If it doesn?t make sense with the individual, it will not look right. You shouldn?t force it. That?s why I?m all about ?not trends?. I have to be careful, because I don?t want the next collection to be a trend. It has to have its own style.

Mitra: If you could do anything else (besides fashion design and art) what would it be?

M: I used to take a lot of acting. I love acting and I love singing. I don?t only write, but I sing to what I write. There?s so much to say and you can?t say everything through only one media. You communicate through visuals: film, music, everything. With that, you get a better chance of purveying the message.

Mitra: As a fashion designer, what is the most important thing you?ve learned?

M: I used to teach at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising for three years. I think that was the biggest thing I?ve ever learned. You can be a professor and still and not know how to teach. I went back to teach because I remember when I was taking classes, the instructors knew what they were doing but they couldn?t communicate through the students. There?s a difference between being good at sewing and being a good teacher. I always tried to remind [the students] where this is heading. I would always teach them something and say, ?Hey, I?m teaching you this because you?re going to be doing this and this in the real world.? They teach you the aspects of fashion where you have to be hands on. I?m a macro-person like the Aquarius usually is. I like seeing the big picture, the future, and managing it. I don?t need to be an expert at it. I learned what I should and shouldn?t focus on indirectly.

Mitra: I see you were featured at L.A. Fashion Week. What was it like?

M: That was amazing because L.A. Fashion Week pretty much gets a bad rep because New York is seen as the best one. We joined the eco-friendly part, which got a lot of good reviews. Going green right now is a growing trend. We got a lot of press from one night ? 20 news clippings and KCLA coverage. Adrian Grenier (Entourage) loved it and did a little name drop. It?s a big deal to be promoting eco-friendliness.

Mitra: Has anyone ever told you that you resemble Los Angeles D.J., Steve Aoki?

M: Everyone mistakes me for him! I was at a hotel where Nicole Ricci and the lead singer from Good Charlotte were at and they thought I was Steve. We only resemble one another from far away. I?m going to get a picture of him and I next to each other so people can see we really don?t look alike. Steve Aoki is a great guy.

Mitra: It?s obvious you want your wearer to not only feel the comfort of your clothes, but your message as well. What is one particular emotion you want your wearer to feel when they see or wear your designs?

M: Outside all of the conscious aspects of clothing that would make them feel good, like being made from organic cottons and eco-friendly fabrics without dyes, outside all of that, my friends and clients say it makes them ?feel good?. Translating through the clothing was the goal.

Mitra: What are your future plans?

M: I used to go clubbing and partying a lot. I used to design collections without the intent of a business and selling it. I used to design in Peru and show in L.A., happy telling people they couldn?t buy it anywhere. I made a business, got a partner, and started making sales pitches. People started asking me if I was a musician, which Steve Aoki is. I keep saying he is my party personality that became a real person. Someone had to fill those shoes.

My future plans that regard to everything ? I want to take this international. We do trade shows in Spain through Bread and Butter and sell in Europe. We plan to take this all the way. I want to make a stationary and gifts line like Paul Frank or Sanrio-ish goods, and furniture. I want to make this a lifestyle.

Mitra:Besides MtheMovement.Com, is there anywhere else we can purchase your designs?

M: In 2008 we will be spreading production and shipping to local boutiques. You can also purchase pieces now from www.PopStarApparel.Com.

A piece from M's collection at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Photo courtesy of Michael Herrera.

M at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Photo Courtesy of Michael Hererra

A piece from M's collection featuring on the runway at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Photo courtesy of Michael Hererra.