An artist I discovered last year, Riva Christophe, spoke about how “in a completely different environment, you have to take off all the concepts you’ve been wearing. By doing so, movement occurs such as taking off the skin, scraping off something, and trying on something different.”
On my travels and throughout my life, I’ve gravitated towards kindred spirits who share my sense of curiosity and adventure. So I decided to ask some of my favorite humans who are lucky to call extraordinary destinations home: What are your top 3 off-the-beaten-track treasures in your city? And what would you wear while while exploring these secret havens?
Our next stop is one of my favorite cities in the world, Mexico City. I first discovered the city at 22 years old while interning for Carla Fernández, a fashion brand that collaborates with indigenous and mestizo artisans and their textile traditions. I instantly fell in love with Mexico's complex cuisine, gorgeous architecture that united with nature, and blend of ancient and contemporary craft traditions. Of course, I also had the best guide, the host of this travelogue, Francisco de los Santos. Born and raised in Mexico City, Francisco is a talented designer, data analyst, and entrepreneur with insatiable knowledge and curiosity.
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Composed of three artistic expressions in a single water pump complex, this location reminds us of a Mexico long gone, where art and function for the city worked together. Enclaved in Chapultepec Park, this newly restored landmark combines a fountain representing the Aztec god of rain, Tlaloc, an Art Deco building and it’s crowned with a former subaquatic mural by one of the most famous painters of the country, Diego Rivera. I love going there to relax, since it’s quiet and it’s a great place to start wandering across the park.
I would wear the Loop Placket Shirt to spend time in the park.
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Mexico equals food equals tacos, and the city has one of its own, suadero. Suadero is brisket simmered and slow cooked in pork lard, all of this is done in its own pan called choricera. Everyone has their favorite, but a must have is “Los Cocuyos” located right downtown. Soft meat filled with flavor, coriander, onion, hot sauce, freshly squeezed lime and you’re in for a feast. Nothing fancy here, just pure street food experience. After eating you can visit the Aztec ruins in the Templo Mayor Museum. I would wear the Pleat Tuck Jumpsuit!
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This complex dedicated to cinema is a great spot to admire, explore and live. It has restaurants, coffee shops, an ice cream parlor, a terrace, a museum, public green spaces, a huge film archive and 10 cinema screens where the best of the best in cinema is screened. The space was renovated a couple of years ago and its architecture is spectacular. I just love it, it’s a great place to have fun. I would be wearing the Tilt Block Sweater here.
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Francisco de los Santos is a designer turned data analyst / entrepreneur. His time is split between developing a chocolate brand, creating a graphic novel and making charts and graphs for one of the biggest beer brewers in the world. Follow him on Instagram @pacosantos.