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When fashion intersects with art, the result is a rich tapestry of wearable expression that resonates with vibrancy and intent. Products of My Environment by New Mexico based artist The Son of Picasso is not just a fashion brand; it's a canvas where the legacy of artistic genius and the pulse of contemporary design converge.

Born in 1982 under the government name of Benjamin Nelson, The Son of Picasso could arguably be considered blessed at birth with the artistic genes of his father. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is federally registered as Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma, but is also part Diné / Navajo, Taos Pueblo, and Delaware Oklahoma descent. His father is Yellowman, a self-taught artist whose career spans over fifty years and continuing.

Raised with the distinct lineage that a lifetime in art provides, The Son of Picasso quickly became a child art prodigy, featuring on the cover of Indian Arts Magazine by the age of thirteen. The Son of Picasso’s detailed ledger-style watercolors quickly drew him admiration and a client-base with names such as Elton John, John Travolta, the late Princess Diana, and former president Bill Clinton patronizing his artwork (Source: How to Not Be a Model Citizen, Santa Fe Magazine). Since then, he has gone on to win several prestigious awards in the Native American / Indian art world, become a member of SWAIA, and show at both the summer and winter Indian Markets in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Image source: Santa Fe Magazine

Growing up under the wings of his father, the Native artist Yellowman, The Son of Picasso wanted to honor the role his father played in his art career and highlight that. His father was his teacher from the beginning and is who he learned from. The Son of Picasso is a second-generation artist and had a good foundation instilled in him through his father. Because his father had established himself in the art world, he really paved the way for his childhood career in painting. As The Son of Picasso explains in Santa Fe Magazine,

“Paving the way is hard. There’s a lot of gatekeeping with Native art… So I thought, How do I give honor back to my father? As Natives, when we introduce ourselves to someone, we talk about our parents first as a way to give back to them.”

His father is the one who paved the way for him in the art world. After establishing himself as a painter by the age of thirteen, The Son of Picasso chose to honor his father through his name.

When The Son of Picasso first started selling his paintings in the mid-nineties, a lot of the people who were collecting his work were “very conservative, and didn’t want to see a native kid with long hair and a skateboard” (Source: Santa Fe Magazine). By 2018, he was beginning to envision moving his artistic career beyond the canvas, and create a fashion brand. When The Son of Picasso launched his own fashion label in 2018, he decided to name his brand, “Products of My Environment”. He wanted to make a brand that was completely innovative, combining his love of graffiti art with his love for fine art and found a way to do this through fashion.

Products of My Environment can best be summarized as “Native handmade upcycled clothes and accessories”. (Source: Southwest Contemporary). Everything The Son of Picasso makes is one of one. He uses recycled materials and vintage fabrics to create unique pieces of clothing. The range of the products he produces varies depending on the type and quality of materials used, the complexity and originality of the design, and the availability and demand of the items.

When interviewing The Son of Picasso for this article, one thing stood out. His commitment to the ethos “Made on Native Land by Native Hands”. The Son of Picasso’s products for his fashion label are created with the Plains Indian mantra “use the whole buffalo” in mind. All materials are responsibly sourced and ethically made in Native America by an actual Native artist.

Products of My Environment is rooted in a philosophy that honors creativity and responsible capitalism. Each stitch carries the promise of sustainability and social consciousness, emblematic of a fashion label that does not just dress a generation but speaks to it. The brand's core values meld innovation, authenticity, and an unwavering commitment to preserving our planet.

Fashion is often transient, but Products of My Environment chooses to stand the test of time by instilling purpose into every garment. Beyond textiles and trends, this is a brand that weaves the fabric of its ethics into the very heart of its collections, cultivating a loyal community along the way.

From minimal water usage to advocating for zero waste, the brand stays true to eco-friendly practices, ensuring that those who don their creations partake in a global mission to reduce fashion's carbon footprint.

For the fashionista, the art connoisseur, and the ecologically minded, Products of My Environment doesn't just appeal — it resonates. It's a call to those who dress with intention and live with perception. By marrying the elements of Native American artistry, urban vitality, and the cravings of the sustainably aware, Products of My Environment serves as a beacon for diverse cohorts who share a common zeal for fashion suffused with meaning.

Those who value the narrative woven within the seams will find solace in a brand that encapsulates culture, art, and eco-agility. As The Son of Picasso explained in his interview with Santa Fe Magazine, “Our newest collection is called Model Citizen, and it was a play on the idea of counterculture mixed with graffiti culture”. The Son of Picasso embraces both painting and graffiti in his collections, using both screen-printing techniques and graffiti and allowing the one to influence the other for a result that will “blow everybody’s minds”.

Video: The creation of Carhartt Zip-Up hoodie by The Son of Picasso / Products of My Environment (TikTok)

As The Son of Picasso explains,

“I feel like in Native fashion, everyone is kind of working off one another’s work. I’ve been a painter, a graffiti artist, a graphic designer, and a photographer. Bringing all of those genres into clothing, well, it looks pretty different. It was just a chance for me not to play by any rules”.

For the full article in Santa Fe Magazine, please visit the website.

Unveiling some of the signature pieces from Products of My Environment, you find garments that are tantamount to collectors' items. Each design is thoughtfully created to mirror the artistic spirit while exuding style and functionality. Limited runs of bespoke items underscore the uniqueness of the label, where owning a piece is akin to possessing wearable art.

“The idea behind the Tipi Tank hoodie started off as a political cartoon. It was a play on the Tiananmen Square Tank Man Protestor. I was a kid when I saw the footage of him walking in front of that column of tanks in ‘89. I loved the idea that one individual could stop the megalomania of a superpower and it always stuck with me”.

The scraps left can be reworked into a denim or leather purse.

“The American Flag hoodie was made from a thrifted blanket. There was just enough material to make the hoodie. There are only a few scraps left of that material.

The significance of this hoodie is its emphasis on something in good condition, such as the thrifted blanket, being reused. By purchasing thrifted goods and reusing them by creating bespoke fashion pieces, The Son of Picasso is able to cut down on consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of his designs.

Alanna Green pictured here in Flag Tapestry Cropped Hoodie with Cartoonist Ricardo Caté at La Fonda on The Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Be it hoodies screen-printed with motifs reminiscent of native artwork or garments that speak visual poetry, each item in the collection tells a story. These signature pieces are testament to a lineage of creativity and audacity to challenge that boldly projects itself onto the streetscape of avant-garde couture.

As The Son of Picasso has explained, everything he makes for his fashion label is one of one:

“Even the Carhartt hoodies are technically one of one. They are all individually screen-printed and come out with their own character.

The Son of Picasso really appreciates being able to enjoy what he does for a living. He honors his heritage and holds deep respect for his lineage which has so clearly demonstrated how the old pave the way for the young. However, he doesn’t like to be the face of his work. What he wishes above all else is for the work he creates to speak for itself.

Art. Fashion. Sustainability. Products of My Environment is more than a brand— it's a movement. Products of My Environment is more than a style statement; it's a lifestyle. Embrace the convergence of legacy and modernity. Explore the collection, embody the art, live the philosophy.

You are invited to visit the website, and follow The Son of Picasso via his Instagram.

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Exploring Products of My Environment by The Son of Picasso: A Unique Blend of Fashion and Wearable Art