Introducing your new favourite streetwear illustrator!
We are still obsessing over the exclusive design that Pepe Pomares Sanchiz, AKA @pomi240, created for us featuring Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The Sole Womens recently caught up with the Spanish illustrator behind the royal concept to talk inspiration, brands, and plans for upcoming projects.
Check out the full interview below!
We love the exclusive Meghan and Harry design that you created for us! Can you tell us about how you came up with the idea and explain the process behind it?
First of all, thank you so very much for contacting me to do such a crazy job. At the beginning when you asked me to do the cartoon of Prince Harry and Meghan, it popped into my mind that the funniest way would be to design them as if they were characters from The Simpsons because everyone knows these cartoons and I personally like them very much. Regarding the design process, I always nourish from different sources to update myself on the latest hype trends of the moment before creating them.
How did you first become involved in illustration and design?
Since I was very young I have been surrounded by art in my family and I have always drawn and dedicated time to graffiti. All of this and my interest in art and urban culture led me to start designing with graphic editing programs since I was 12 years old. I am 24 now and I have never received any graphic design training, I am totally self-taught.
What is your favourite sneaker brand right now?
My favourite Brand is Nike without a doubt. Although I have to say that I also like the Adidas Yeezy line a lot.
What are your main inspirations and influences when you create your illustrations?
My main inspirations are the multiple accounts of society and hype culture like yours that I follow on Instagram and the artists or celebrities within the world of streetwear like Kaws, Takashi and Jayden Smith among others. Before I start to create any design, I always update myself on the latest trends and apply them by illustrating famous cartoon characters with hype clothing that exists in reality.
Have you got any plans for upcoming projects that you can tell us about?
I always try to improve my designs every time and also to transmit a story interconnecting them in a common context. For example, you can see that my last three designs, based on the series 'The Fairly OddParents', keep a mini story between them. If you take a closer look at the descriptions of the designs, you can see why. Cosmo is saying that he is 'kawtastic' because he wears a shirt design by Kaws, Timmy agrees with him, while Wanda laughs at him. I also intend to open an online store very soon in order to sell my designs in prints.
If you could pick a dream design collaboration with a brand, what would it be?
My dream since childhood has always been to collaborate with Nike. I admire the work that artists like Sean Wotherspoon or Virgil Abloh do for this brand and most of my work is always focused on it.
Your Off-White custom designs are amazing! Would you be interested in creating shoes based on your designs?
Definitely, as I mentioned Nike is my favourite brand, but when it comes to the collaborations that they make with Off-White I have to say that those are outstanding. I try to get inspiration from them for my designs and other projects in which I am involved at the moment. One of these projects that I am really excited about is the creation of sneakers with a brand named Selective Co.
What is the sneaker/streetwear culture like in Spain?
I think that Spain has a slower rhythm to the rest of Europe and the world in terms of the arrival of new urban trends. Although it is spreading and becoming more well known thanks to influential artists such as Ricardo Cavolo or C. Tangana among others.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to become part of the most influential artists in the world of design, culture and urban fashion that currently exists. It might seem crazy but with hard work anything can be achieved!
