Designer Mario Salangsang in María Hernández Park, on his way to work. Click for more photos. — Photos by Nicole Wasilewicz.

This week, in an attempt to focus on the urban aesthetic that is most prominent in our neighborhood, I ran into a couple of hurdles. First, a guy in a super fly graphic hoodie refused an interview about fashion, but kept me for the next 15 minutes as he tried to sell me his bike. The next day, I spotted a father-daughter duo in matching ensembles (complete with white pleather fitted caps) which resulted in the romantic gesture of free bodega coffee from dad but, alas, no style profile. And finally, after a handful of teens in a blizzard of multi-colored high tops, none of whom would allow their picture to be taken, made fun of my tape recorder — I decided to settle for a look that was urban street wear-inspired instead and not so cameraphobic.

Mario Salangsang, Designer

With an emphasis on reinvention, Mario takes neighborhood classics like baggy jeans and hoodies to a Kid Cudi-esque place — I’d even give a hat tip to a military-inspired Kanye, who usually knows how to dress himself as long as dude leaves his stunner shades at home. With homemade bling (which caught my eye from across the street) and graphic prints, all Mario was missing was a neon flash of color, which was hidden in the form of plastic key covers hooked to his belt loop. Granted those aren’t what you’d usually call an accessory, but the fashionable always manage to sneak that sort of stuff in “accidentally.” As for the rest of you — if you see me on your block, let me take your picture, okay?

Where are you going in that outfit? Is the style different there than in Bushwick?
I do website design so I’m headed to work over on 33rd & 6th Avenue and, well, the difference is quite obvious. It’s very touristy in that area. [Whereas here] you get a lot of families, a lot of kids, a lot of urban street wear.

Are you a fan of urban street wear?
Not really. I think it’s kind of dead. Like all those bigger brands like Bape and all that other shit with big logos. I’m from that generation, and it totally influences me… I mean we popularized that stuff, but c’mon.

What do you do when you’re not at work?
Working on this clothing line and design collective, 21st Century Maroon Colony. I’m wearing one of our shirts and this tank top below which has this, like, butt flap in the back so you can’t see my ass. Usually, if I’m not working I head straight to the studio in Greenpoint. We actually just got hit up by M.I.A. to do her new website so hopefully we get it.

Tell me a little bit about your necklace. Did you make it?
Yeah. I was reading this book American Gods, and I’m kind of into a lot of the surreal Haitian gods they talk about, a lot of that inspires my designs. I’m Filipino and Mexican, and I don’t know if I identify more with that, or if I’m American. So a lot of it is about reinvention. I make things like this with Malcolm X, tears (like crying, not holes), fabric, and the rosary because I can’t really lean on just one side of something.