The Mexican designer opens up about his cultural roots, the importance of ritual and repetition, and why longevity is at the heart of his collections.

For Spring/Summer 2026, Mexican designer Patricio Campillo is thinking in cycles. His latest collection, presented at New York Fashion Week, takes repetition as both concept and method&mdash;showing how habits, practice, and mantras can evolve into transformation. To Campillo, repetition isn&rsquo;t just about pattern; it&rsquo;s about progress. Through doing something again and again, a skill is acquired, refined, and eventually made to look effortless.
Speaking with L&rsquo;OFFICIEL, Campillo reflected on how repetition, recognition, and heritage in his own life have helped him become more comfortable both in himself and in his collections. With each season, he feels more confident in his ability to not just create, but to stake out his place in an industry that often tests emerging designers.&nbsp;

Campillo Spring/Summer 2026.

L'OFFICIEL: Growing up in Mexico City and being immersed in Charro culture, how have those roots shaped your creative lens as a designer?

PATRICIO CAMPILLO: It's given me identity; it's a reference. It's something that I grew up with, and it wasn't until later in my life that I realized how valuable it was. I think sometimes when you grow up with something, you see it so closely that you're not able to really value it for what it is until later in my life. I think it just shaped a lot of the way that I saw myself, culturally, how I identified myself.

L'O: Many designers reference heritage subtly, but your work seems to spotlight it directly. How do you strike a balance between honoring tradition and reimagining it for contemporary menswear?

PC: I think the tradition is a starting point. It starts with a suit that my grandfather gave to my dad when my dad turned 18, which I later got. I wore it and felt very powerful, and I felt really hot and masculine in a good way. And I think that was the beginning of a conversation. I think those jackets and those pants are the base pattern for everything in the brand. It was about, 'how do we recontextualize this into contemporary Mexico? What does it look like?' So rather than merging both tradition and contemporary, I think that was the beginning of a conversation in a dialogue that keeps on evolving every season.

L'O: You began in fashion journalism and art direction before turning to design. How has that multidisciplinary background influenced your approach to building collections?&nbsp;
 PC: I was working as a journalist, and I was pitching stories to my editor. She would be like, 'Okay, before you say anything, just ask yourself, why is this relevant? Why should we cover this?' And I think that question remained in the back of my mind every time I do something, whether it's shooting a campaign or I'm starting the collection, I just think, why is this relevant right now? How is this going to connect to reality?

L'O: You had your NYFW debut one year ago. What feels different this time around&mdash;either in your mindset, preparation, or the collection itself?&nbsp;

PC: I&rsquo;m not as scared anymore, and working with the same team for three seasons has made everything easier&mdash;everyone understands what we&rsquo;re doing, and it&rsquo;s smoother to collaborate. I also feel more confident in my work and better at pushing myself while keeping a healthy mindset. Controlling anxiety has been a big part of that. I love what I do, but sometimes when you&rsquo;re so passionate, it can feel overwhelming. Now I feel like I&rsquo;ve learned to manage that, and I&rsquo;m really enjoying it.

L'O: Sustainability is a thread in your brand&rsquo;s identity. How do you merge environmentally conscious practices with high-end fashion?

PC: In the beginning, sustainability was the most important element, though I later realized how challenging it is. Ultimate sustainability would mean not producing anything, but for me it&rsquo;s about making conscious choices every day. About 95% of our materials are biodegradable; sometimes we use polyester linings for durability, because longevity is also sustainable. I see true sustainability in artisanal processes&mdash;craft that takes time, skill, and tradition. Our denim treatments, for example, are hand-washed and handmade.

L'O: Last year, you were a semi-finalist for the LVMH Prize. How did that recognition influence you and your brand&rsquo;s trajectory?

PC: I&rsquo;ve been designing for almost 10 years, and I didn&rsquo;t really know if it was going anywhere. I started questioning if my passion should always come before my life plans&mdash;like, did I want a family, what kind of lifestyle did I want? I didn&rsquo;t want to stop, but I also wasn&rsquo;t sure why I should keep going other than my love for clothes. Then I got the call, and that felt like my answer. Recognition is important&mdash;it&rsquo;s underrated. When it&rsquo;s not about ego, it just pushes you forward. It&rsquo;s like being in a race and someone&rsquo;s cheering you on&mdash;it gives you the oxygen to keep going.

L'O: Looking ahead, where do you want to take the brand in the next five years&mdash;do you see yourself expanding beyond menswear, or is the focus on deepening that category?

PC: One of the most beautiful things that could happen to the brand would be if, in 10 years, I encountered some of the pieces in a vintage store&mdash;being worn by a second or third person, still functional and beautiful, and keeping their integrity. That&rsquo;s really important to me. I think we&rsquo;re also already moving toward a more genderless aesthetic. Around 40% of our customers are female, and more and more pieces in the collection are unisex. Rather than focusing only on menswear, I want to expand the product range&mdash;we&rsquo;re developing leather goods like high-quality handbags, shoes, belts, and some jewelry.

Patricio Campillo Weaves Ritual and Tradition Into His Spring/Summer 2026 Collection

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