Concrete jungle

There’s no better way to discover the hidden side of this new brand than to meet its collective of artists and creators, whose trademark is a mysterious brick wall.

A graffiti crew who share not only their love for art, revolution and movement, but also the laid-back attitude only those from Algarve can understand. That is because Selva is – above all – a lifestyle, a product of the environment, for those who want a relaxed way to look good.

«Selva means movement and growth. These are the two words we associate with the various subcultures we represent that are part of our background», the founders explain, introducing us to their connection with various forms of creativity, from graffiti to painting and illustration to music, skating, tattooing and photography. «These subcultures represent the will to explore, the danger, the unrest — a wilder, more underground lifestyle», they add.

«It is not just about taking the art of the street and putting it into the garments we make that inspires us, it is what’s behind it, the motivation to create something as a response to some of our specific needs», they clarify. T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, jackets, windbreakers, socks, caps and bucket hats are the products currently available at the brand’s online store. «Our goal is to create pieces for those who are active, pieces you can put on and immediately have that feeling of quality and comfort», they emphasise.

Since its foundation in October 2015, Selva has brought out three collections. While the first two drops used the palm tree and the brick wall as a statement of their brand’s origin and identity, the third, in a capsule format, began to include technical details, opening the doors to the activewear market. «We want to create clothes meant for outdoor activities, for those who go out to paint, to fish, photograph the mountains, ride a bike; we make these pieces so they can feel comfortable in those situations too», state the collective artists.

It is precisely with this in mind that they are developing their next collection in partnership with a producer from Porto. «We are introducing more colour, mixing different fabric and trying to create a functional product that can show off our evolution from a technical standpoint, this time inspired by summer time in the Algarve», they tell. «When we speak of quality, it is not just about going to the factory and choosing the best cotton to produce our pieces. Since we have the option, we think of everything from the beginning, from cutting the fabric, to embroidery and the colours that we end up using», they share.

«It is also a part of our vision to show what kind of lifestyle people have back in Algarve. That is why we prefer taking photos on streets you do not usually find in tourist brochures – the fishing villages, the narrow streets, the dense neighbourhoods, the fields and backyards, these are spots where we actually hang out», they say. The truth is, «we do not actually go around on boat trips, drinking champagne; we dress in shorts and t-shirts, it is 30 ºC at night and we are just chilling out in a backyard. That is the type of vibe we want to spread out there».

One of the brand’s distinctive features is, in fact, that they do not follow any set rules or a predefined course. «Luckily, we can rely on the moment and work in a rhythm and harmony that’s conducive for the whole group», they explain. «It is not like we do not have our own structure and tasks, but our office is more couches than chairs and when everything is flowing, we know we can have a beer and relax», they describe. «It is this laid-back attitude that we have a lot in the Algarve».

When the topic moves to the future, their faces light up. «Raise our international profile, have a place in concept stores that share the brand’s feeling», are their immediate goals. «We also have the goal of giving back to society; we want to set up activities to get people moving», they point out. «After so many years going to rap concerts, graffiti jams and photography exhibitions, we can already imagine an event that’s going to get everyone feeling laid-back and in a good mood».

They recently did their first pop-up in Lisbon and the city rose to the occasion. «The best part was that we had a big turnout of people and we could tell we left them waiting for what’s coming next», elucidate the collective. With no precise schedule for launching their next pieces, Selva’s creators leave us with the promise of staying true to their roots and the will to keep surprising.