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We flew South for the winter and spent some time with SAFE of MI GENTE CLOTHING. Picture Miami, Florida as the backdrop and pick your own soundtrack. For those not familiar, with the man and his movement class is in session.

Photos: Derick G

SF: Ok first off – SAFE, the name? There’s got to be a good story behind this.
S: It all goes back to my B-Boy/Graffiti days. One of the older guys in the neighborhood gave me that name and I ran with it.

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SF: Mi Gente is Spanish for “My People”. Tell us about your fan base.

S: Well our fan base mainly consists of “sneaker heads”, but not just the regular type of sneaker head. The type that hunts down each peace of their outfit to create what we call “A MOOOOVIE!” We also have a pritty big celebrity fan base, In witch consits of Rick Ross, Diddy, Chi McBride, DJ Clark Kent, DJ Khalid ect… Our fan base is also international, there not just Latino. We ship world wide. For example, Australia, London, Switzerland, all over the U.S, and Bohemia. Who’s even heard of Bohemia? Well apparently they like to get fresh there too!

SF: When it comes to style, what does Miami offer that no where in the world does?
S: Well number 1, we have great weather all year-round. So you’re pretty much free to wear what ever you want. So sneakers, tee’s and fitteds is the uniform all year-round. And gives us the motivation to stay on the hunt for that next exclusive piece. Miami is also a colorful place, which is an inspiration for everything from designing to fashion, experimenting with colors and textures, it’s just a very motivating place.

SF: Safe lays down the law. You’ve just been deputized as a Style Marshall. What trend would you like to permanently ban?
S: Well first off I gotta band for life, FAKE KICKS…Don’t ask why! Then it would have to be Skinny Jeans – that’s just a trend, and then dusty fitteds, because that’s not FRESH!

SF: Greatest sports team logo of all time?
S: WOW. This is the hardest question of all time. But I would have to go with the Oakland Raiders “shield logo”.

SF: What’s your favorite fitted cap and kick combination?
S: Every combo I wear daily is my favorite. But anything in the 95 color way “Gray, Black, White, NEON Yellow and 3M is my “ISH!” I can wear that combo every day.

SF: What’s next for the [blank] KNOWS phenominon?
S: NIGEL.KNOWS.BMX (Nigel Sylvester) We just blessed him with a KNOWS shirt and if you don’t know who he is, he’s the BMX Street King from New York, GOOGLE HIM!

SF: How do you see the internet impacting fashion?
S: It’s definitely a double edged sword. There’s the good, the bad, and the BITERS! And they’re all online, so you gotta dodge them like a bullet and stay focused and be fashion forward.

SF: Looking back at your career to date, what design project are you the most proud of?
S: WOW theres a lot to chose from but for me it was Definitely the DJ Clark Kent 112 pack. It was a huge release last year and I was proud to be a part of it. We released the official t-shirt and the Brooklyn Machine Works (MG Flight 112) park bike, which we designed and built from scratch (you can google that to!). And did a huge release down in Miami at Shoe Gallery and the after party at NIKKI BEACH where DJCK ripped it down Legendary! That night was a MOOOOVIE!

SF: In an alternate reality, what other career path would you have chosen?
S: I probably would have been in the music business since I’m also a DJ, and I have alot of friends in the bizz and also have a passion for music.

SF: What is the biggest creative influence in your life?
S: Sneakers, music, colors, textures, fly clothes and All Things Fresh (ATF)

SF: What are three defining qualities of a bonafide classic?
S: Freshness, quality and longevity = classic material.

SF: Stitch for stitch, who do you believe has made the best fitted baseball cap ever?
S: New Era 59Fifty, but the competition is catching up – QUICKLY…

SF: What words of advice would you give to aspiring designers?
S: Don’t get caught in the hype, Be original, observant, relevant and always stay fresh from head to toe. And there are no rules to designing so do what makes you feel good, and be PROUD of your work!