Xavier's Perihelion: "Everyone's in Vile Hearts"

S: What is your name?

X: Xavier Robertson.

S: How old are you?

X: I’m 23.

S: Where are you from?

X: Cleveland, Ohio.

S: How has your hometown or any part of your youth influenced your art style?

X: My hometown didn’t influence me too much, but definitely my early childhood. A lot of the artists my older siblings would play around me growing up included Pharrell, The Gorillas, and Kanye. I admired their artwork and the way they’d always push the envelope so I took that and used it as a blueprint for my own art style.

S: What does the name “Vile Hearts” mean?

X: Yeah...honestly, Vile Hearts has no meaning.

*laughs* I really was just looking for a new name to replace the old one.

S: What was the old name?

X: “Nailed by Coffin”...it wasn’t hitting. Not nearly as good as this one. And when it came to me, it just clicked. It just sounds cool to me.

S: Following the release of the “Heart Throb” Trucker and all its color variations, it quickly became a staple in everyone’s accessory rotation. How did you come up with the concept for such a notable design?

X: Well, I watch a lot of Blaxplotation movies, and I like their movie poster art style.

S: Blaxplotation?

X: Yeah, movies like Shaft and Superfly for example. That whole 70s era of cinematography is known as

Blaxplotation and it includes hundreds of movies with all Black directors and cast. Blaxplotation had a very innovative boom in the film industry at that time. So I get a lot of influence from their posters and that design just came into my head. I sketched it on a piece of paper and sent it out to my graphic designer. Once I got it back, I held on to it for a year–but once it dropped it just blew up from there.

S: What is the creative process like for you? Do you carve out specific timelines to work or do you prefer inspiration to find you?

X: I definitely prefer inspiration to find me. I like to go with the flow because the artistic process should be as organic as possible. Having dates and deadlines is okay when you have to complete and sell

a project by a certain time or have other people relying on you. But anything outside of that just has to

be organic in order to produce the best art.

S: What 5 songs are in your rotation this week?

X: B.O.B. by Outkast, How Does It Feel by Pharrell, Superthug by Noreaga, Life Of The Party by Kanye West, and Visions by Stevie Wonder.

S: Did spending some time in Houston impact your art in any way? Or change your creative process?

X: I did like Houston but it wasn’t the place for me. I struggled to find artistic inspiration despite the huge art scene surrounding legendary Houston music. However, Houston’s fashion scene was much of the same as here in Cleveland honestly. Little boutiques, and embroidered sweatsuits you know? I will say the music in Houston stuck with me though. DJs would often cater to Houston’s own music style so I’d often hear the music you couldn’t hear anywhere else but Houston. It was great. I’d often use those songs to help me out while creating so it did influence me largely in that way.

S: What is your most worn piece?

X: My trucker hats and my unreleased Vile Hearts track pants which will be available soon in pink and purple. They are definitely one of my most fly pieces to date.

S: What does a week in your life look like?

X: Most of my day is spent sketching on my iPad, making tech packs for my manufacturers, and shipping out packages. I’m also always talking to my financial partner throughout the week about ways to elevate the brand, popups we want to do, and various other things.

S: Who is your favorite designer?

X: Jeremy Scott, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Nigo.

S: What is the piece you’re most proud of?

X: My unreleased reversible hoodie. They took a lot of work and have so many small details.

S: Many people are unaware that the time between the visualization of a design and its actual release can be months or even a year due to unforeseen circumstances. What release has been the most challenging for you in your design history?

X: Definitely that one! The process of getting that made is like two hoodies in one, so if I sell 80 I’m really paying to have 160 hoodies made and sewn together. That process has been challenging for my manufacturers for obvious reasons, but, it's also been challenging for me because it's a lot of money–especially with inflations since COVID.

S: Many Vile Hearts pieces are reminiscent of prior decades in fashion—most notably the 70s and 80s. Are there any notable figures from those decades you would’ve wanted in your pieces?

X: Richard Roundtree, Pam Grier, Bruce Lee, Donna Summer, and Jim Kelly for the 70s. For the 80s I’d have to say LL Cool J and RUN DMC.

S: What was the moment you had as a designer that made you feel as though it was best for you?

X: I can honestly say there's never been a moment in which I didn’t know I’d be a successful fashion designer. *laughs* Since 8th grade when I realized I didn’t want to be a scientist, I’ve been making clothes ever since. I’d have my friends in school pay me to sew up their pants or do things to them. Making clothes has literally felt like breathing air.

S: What was the first piece you ever sold?

X: I made a custom Kappa-inspired jacket for my friend Monte back in Kent. He had just become a Kappa at the time.

Megan Thee Stallion in custom Vile Hearts on XXL's "Freshmen Class of 2019" cover.

S: From looking at some of the earlier works you’ve posted compared to some of the latest, there is a noticeable evolution. Do you consciously strive for your art to evolve? Or has it been an organic process?

X: I’d say it's a combination of both, honestly. I’m always striving to be a better artist but I do realize that good things take time and I’m always going to have my good days and bad days. I try to find a happy medium between not being too hard on myself and still applying self-induced pressure to stay motivated.

S: In the summer of 2021 following the release of your Mitosis swimwear collection, there was an overflow of gorgeous content with women in suits from all over the country.

How did you react to this? Was it something you expected?

X: It was an amazing feeling! That was when I felt the demographic I always wanted to make clothes for was starting to notice me; that demographic being young Black women. The objective of making that collection was to assure women of all shapes and sizes that they can wear whatever they want and look great in it. It felt so good seeing so many different women, especially as a man who can’t relate to the hardships women–especially Black women–face when finding clothes that flatter them since they are often curvier. I kinda envisioned it going exactly that way and it really came out just how I wanted it to.

S: Finally, if the world was yours for a month what would it look like?

X: Everyone's in Vile Hearts, for sure.

There would be a community arts center in every underprivileged neighborhood, it’s important for the kids to have an outlet to express their abilities. No one would have to live their life on the street or have to commit a crime to support their family. Finally, there’d be equal opportunity for everyone to chase their dreams just like I am. Everyone should feel like they can be whoever they want to be.