Ricardo Seco unveiled his Fall/Winter ’16 collection, TIME during the most recent New York’s Fashion Week: Men’s. The designer was chosen by the CFDA as one of the emerging designers to showcase their FW16 collections. As the only Mexican designer being featured, his collection focused on contemporary Mexico, highlighting the country’s bold and unique culture. In an exclusive interview Seco reveals all about his latest collection and more.

With 21 looks, the silhouette-style presentation consisted of 70-percent black pieces with touches of off-white and fluorescent colors.  The most important look is one of Seco’s own designs using sarape. While making this piece, his goal was to showcase a garment that would speak volumes about Mexico’s culture. In addition to sarape, the collection featured fabrics such as wool, cashmere, cotton, suede, lamb leather, fox fur, and acrylic metallic. The hair looks were created using the new line of AXE Hair Products.

HOMBRE: What is the source of inspiration for this collection?
Ricardo Seco: The inspiration is the sarape. It’s an item from the north of Mexico that has a lot of color but it’s a traditional item that I use, created 150 years ago. It is a mix of tradition with innovation, mixed with New York. I did my own design of the sarape, mixed it with black and white, put color and other details.

H: Why is it important to show your heritage through your collection?
RS: My identity is all about my culture. I am very happy that I am from Mexico. We have many indigenous and traditional things. I want to share it and keep the traditions alive. And I want to help the people who do this work because the sarape is handmade, it takes 30 days to finish one sarape.

H: Do you think the sarape can become a fashion item worldwide? 
RS: I can see the garment in the most esteemed and influential winter destinations. Places where you see art, fashion, and music combined like Aspen, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, and festivals like Sundance.

H: Before you began your career as a designer you were a businessman, what made you change professions?
RS: I always liked design. Before design I was a businessman with a company of import and export in Mexico. Fifteen years ago I decided to go after my dream and now I’m here. I arrived in New York four years ago, this is my ninth collection.

H: Who are some of the designers you admire?
RS: I don’t have a special one, I have many designers that I like their work. John Vavartos I love, Tom Ford I like. It’s a mix, I don’t have a favorite. For me all are important and I think that each adds something special. I love when a designer has an identity. That’s the best thing you need to have when you design.

H: How does it feel to be at New York Fashion: Men’s?
RS: I’m very happy. It’s a great thing and I enjoy sharing my time in New York and for people to know more about my culture.

HOMBRE Magazine’s Francisco Romeo with models after Ricardo Seco’s NYFW:Men’s Fall/Winter ’16 Presentation

H: How would you summarize your collection?
RS: We live in a timeless world filled with color.  We know who we are – we are our past and we are our present. We create our future based on traditions and heritage, which makes our time here beautiful.  Now is the time to enjoy sarape and other street styles of the world.

Model/ host Maria Fariello interviews Ricardo Seco for HOMBRE