Ingeniousness, creativity and a lot of passion: this is Matteo Carlotto founder of Not Safe For Humans

Young and with a great desire to create, Matteo Carlotto is a designer and founder of his streetwear brand “Not Safe For Humans”, through which he transforms the imagination into reality, creating, conceiving and creating personally every piece of his collections. A figure that can inspire many young creatives. Below is our chat…

How did your passion for design start? Where did you start? Have you always wanted to do this?

I started approaching the design world when I was 11-12 years old when I first downloaded Photoshop and started working on graphics, a bit for fun. I was good at it, that’s why some Youtubers started contacting me to maybe make their logos rather than covers for their profiles.

This was the first contact that I lost for a few years because I enrolled in language high school; then in the third year I decided to change and join Graphics & Communication.

After about a year, where I had filled the computer with projects, I started to inform myself on how to print my graphics on t-shirts; so I started to “produce” my first clothes: very simple tees with barcode and crocodile prints on them.

At first I only printed on stock t-shirts, so in the summer of the upper fourth, not having much to do, I started sewing my first zero shirt.

Where did the idea of creating the brand come from?

The idea was born gradually, in particular while I was starting to create my first 0 line, totally sewn by me, I felt the need to found something of my own and expand my possibilities.

Have you ever thought about working for better known brands?

No, I’ve always believed in my project and I’m not going to quit!

“Not Safe for humans” is an unique, definitely, name for a streetwear brand: how did you get the idea?

The idea of the name came from the need to find a name that was niche but at the same time provocative.

One afternoon I was surfing the internet and in my mind these words started to take shape; the name didn’t have to have a real meaning, let’s say I don’t want to label my brand. I like the idea that people are the ones to give their own interpretation within which they can be reflected.

As far as the work organisation is concerned: Do you deal with both management and marketing? Do you have a crew of designers working with you?

As far as the organization is concerned, I don’t have a designer crew, I take care of everything; clearly if I have to produce a slightly wider line I have some seamstresses to support me. I also support an agency in Milan, “Carry over PR”, which also takes care of marketing: it made my jacket from the new collection to be worn during an episode of X Factor .

I also collaborate with some stylists or video makers; for example MECNA wore my clothes in its last tour. Despite my young age, I can consider myself very satisfied and then where I don’t know, I can ask!

In the NSFH bio you say that the brand was born to express the needs of today’s person: do you think today’s man needs to wear cold and rather minimal clothes? If so, why?

Personally I think that wearing minimal clothes is a need that today’s person has because a look must be not only beautiful but also comfortable, not surprisingly for all my collections I always adopt an oversize fit.

I like to focus on detail and make unique each piece.

The new “Eye Vision” collection for the SS’20 is conceptual and above all overturns the ordinary canons: can you tell us some anecdotes that led you to create it?

I am almost always guided by chance to create a collection. The best ideas come to me at night because my mind doesn’t stop working for a second; about the “Eye vision” collection, I had the idea of the complete jeans one night and in the morning I couldn’t wait to realize it so that I could see it in front of my eyes.

I also owe a lot to my great spirit of observation: I watch how fashion moves, what goes and what doesn’t; in this way I can rework what is in vogue, always with style!

What I want to say even though I’m still a budding designer is that I make a careful choice of fabrics, for me they are a bit like the canvas on which to paint.

About your young age, do you feel like giving a piece of advice to people like you, who want to realize themselves in the world of design?

I advise you to start gradually, to give up the perjury and continue to invest in your dream.