Cupid, the emerging, self-made fashion designer, raised and now based in New York City, credits his design vocabulary to his hometown for its rich diversity. Starting out as self-taught in the fine art of creating fashion, he also took note and inspiration from his grandmother and local seamstresses. Now, he creates striking, luxury masterpieces and even custom designs his own fabrics for his collections.
A multidisciplinary creative, Cupid says “I always wanted my own company. The Patrick Cupid brand isn’t my first venture. Before I understood that I was a designer, I knew I wanted my own business. At the age of seven, I started a small door-to-door candy-selling business. I owned a talent agency, and event production company, in my early twenties. In my mid-thirties, I sold contemporary art independently.
The Patrick Cupid aesthetic isn’t about one thing or my business approach. Instead, the Patrick Cupid brand expresses who I am, incorporating my many interests, loves, and experiences. As a result, the brand requires the use of my whole brain. Yes, I would love to do many other things, but this is where my heart and focus are.”
Cupid’s first collection, “All in Jest,” started a conversation around independent style without social restrictions in Fall 2019. In response to the new reality of modern living, Cupid’s 2022 and 2023 collections combine luxury and leisure, allowing for a seamless transition between professional and social events, without sacrificing independent style.
The Spring/Summer 2023 collection “Li-li” furthers the concept of individualism by examining femininity and self-identity. Lilac is the key color for the Li-li collection, in honor of Lilith, the first woman and Adam’s first wife.
When choosing the color palette for a collection Cupid will start with the collection mode and delve into the research behind the concept. From there, specific colors will reveal themselves to him. “Color speaks to me. They reflect emotion and convey ideas. Balancing them is writing poetry to me” he says.
“It isn’t just about the colors but how they are used and placed. There is an order in selecting the tones and shades. I am also very conscious of what I’ve done before because I want my collections to cross-merchandise. At the same time, my use of color pushes boundaries with bold combinations that are a little daring.”
Faithful to his cosmopolitan aesthetic, Cupid has created bold, flirty and confidently styled pieces, including fresh new abstract prints to reflect the world beyond Eden.
The clothes themselves are a celebration of femininity, and this collection elevates the conversation about independent style by emphasizing femininity as self-standing. With ruffled tiers and asymmetric cuts in soft cotton and silk, the silhouettes are light and airy, dancing around the wearer. The negative space within the abstract print represents clarity of mind, while meandering forms and color depict free thought. Electric aqua and cloudy whites signify the tears that flow like rivers, the peacefulness of self-awareness, and remind us that the sky’s no limit.
When asked where he gets the inspiration for his custom print/designs from, Cupid says “Art, nature, ideas, and creating prints are my playtime. The geometric prints are purely from my subconscious. The shapes and forms are specific to the collection concept and arranged where ever my mind takes me. While working, I hold the idea of the collection in my mind. I even have songs picked for each collection; this helps. So I listen to music while I work.
The abstract works draw from art or found objects that correlate to the concept. This is why they usually take on a painterly movement. For example, I’ve used rusted panels, paint-spattered doors, or painted myself. But whatever the source, it must relate to the concept, or it doesn’t work. My Spring / Summer 2023 collection Li-Li touches on nature and freedom of expression and thought. The Spots were an idea passed to me by the artist Alexander Lee from Tahiti.”
The overarching story of the brand is one of independence and evolving culture through clothing seamlessly translating from professional to social. Each collection features one of Cupid’s own custom designed prints, in line with the themes of the season.
The Spring – Summer 2023 collection will be available to pre-order online in November 2022 and to purchase in retail stores, including CityGirl Atelier (San Francisco, CA), Felt (Chicago, IL), EJ On Thames (Newport, Rhode Island), Sandy Glam Boutique (Rhode Island), De-Essentia (Charlotte, N. C.), Shop Boutique (South Carolina), Affaire Estrangers (Paris, France), Wolf And Badger (London, Britain) from starting January 2023.
