André x ELHO

Interview with André Saraiva at his atelier in Lisbon, September 23, 2025:

How did the collaboration André x ELHO with Donald come about?
Donald Schneider is an old friend of mine. We met back in the days when he was the art director of French Vogue. We stayed friends ever since. So when he invited me to collaborate on ELHO, the brand he created with his girlfriend and partner Claudia, I was very enthusiastic. Since he knows me so well, he gave me carte blanche, and I sprayed directly onto the pink bomber jackets they specially made for our collaboration.

How do you like winter sports, skiing, and après-ski?
I’ve always liked skiing. I grew up in Sweden, and in winter skiing was just a way to get from A to B. I’m not a champion skier, but every time I go up a mountain and ski down a slope, it reminds me of the fun days of my childhood.

What excites you about working with the legendary ELHO skiwear brand (1948–1993), now being reborn as the new Outdoor Style brand for the next generation?
When Donald showed me the project, he explained that ELHO was an old-school brand in Germany and Switzerland, a bit like Moncler was for us in France before it became a mega brand.

How do you like the new style of ELHO?
The new ELHO is high-tech and fresh. It will keep you warm and stylish this winter.

A limited-edition capsule collection in collaboration with graffiti artist and ELHO friend André Saraiva, featuring his signature “Mr. A” character on the iconic performance bomber jacket and other products—a bold statement for this winter.

When would you wear the ELHO performance bomber jacket?
I’d wear the jacket with my blue jeans, warm socks, and my boots strapped to my skis going down the mountain.

What drew you to Donald and ELHO’s vision—was there a creative spark from the start?
Donald and I have been friends for a long time. We love to reminisce about our fun days in Paris, but we also like to talk about future projects and share our visions.

How much of Mr. A is in this collection—visually and emotionally?
There’s a lot of Mr. A everywhere, both big and small.

There is a special surprise planned, where you will live-spray on 10 “empty” ice-pink performance bomber jackets. Tell us about it. What do you like about live art?
Today I’m painting live on 10 jackets. I hope I don’t mess them up—we only have those 10 pink jackets available! They will become unique art pieces.

What does “Freestyle” mean to you?
In graffiti, freestyle means you don’t follow the strict rules of an alphabet or the straight lines of a letter. You just follow your instinct and let it guide you into making an abstract painting.

What story are you telling with this special art collaboration and capsule collection? Is there an overarching narrative or vibe you want people to feel?
Clothes should make you feel good and happy, and serve as protection from the grey outside world.

How does this collaboration differ from your past projects with Louis Vuitton, Chanel, or Uniqlo?
Every collaboration I approached with a creative mind, trying to integrate the brand’s style and designs. But I also paint on clothes the same way I would tag a wall or a subway car. For me, it’s about reaching more people and spreading Mr. A’s cheeky approach to the world.

Fashion has been part of your life for decades—when does a garment become more than just clothing for you?
Working a lot with fashion always gave me freedom. Fashion was always open to my aesthetics and gave me many opportunities to be creative and reach the world.

What role do fashion, style, urban wear, and performance wear play in your life, and where does ELHO fit in?
I’m always looking for new and high-performance gear. I’ve always had a soft spot for cool performance wear—it goes back to my early hip-hop days.

Walking through Paris, NYC, or Tokyo, what makes someone’s style truly interesting to you?
I love when people are a bit different from the mainstream. I’ve always been fascinated by outsiders and misfits. I like when people dare to be different.

Do you have a favorite piece from the ELHO collection that you wear yourself or feel most connected to?
I love the neon pink winter jacket with the black Mr. A on the back. It combines my two favorite things: Mr. A and pink. I’m sure with this, you’ll stand out on the slopes this winter.

What would you tell someone who wants to enter your world by wearing an ELHO piece?
Just wear the jacket and make it your own.

You created iconic hotels like Hotel Amour and Grand Amour in Paris, and the legendary Le Baron nightclub. How did the idea of curating spaces come to life? In what ways are your hotels an extension of your artistic expression?
Creating places where people can come together—thinking about the sound, the smell, and how people interact—is part of my art. I used to create stores where I sold paintings by the meter, or nightclubs, and now hotels. They all come from the same creative mind I use when I paint. They’re all part of my artistic experiments.

How could the André x ELHO collaboration be integrated into your hotels—capsule wardrobes, staff uniforms, pop-up stores?
Maybe one day we’ll make a hotel in the mountains, and ELHO will design all our uniforms. We’ll have a Hotel Amour ski team sponsored by ELHO, and they’ll win all the medals.

Your work as an artist spans street art, fashion, film, nightlife, and hospitality. What ties it all together?
My practice of art has always been about painting on all surfaces. I come from graffiti—that’s what we do. We paint on everything, as if the world were an infinite canvas.

Is there a red thread that runs through everything you do—Mr. A, the color pink, irony, romance?
I try to go through life with a wink and a smile, like my alter ego Mr. A.

How important is it for you to surprise people in everyday life—with humor, love, or small disruptions?
Love is what keeps me going.

What’s next with you, ELHO, and Donald Schneider? Is there more to come?
We’ll win the next Winter Olympics.

Is there a dream project you’d love to realize—a total experience of art, fashion, and space?
I’m working on a piece of land I bought, where I’m building an immersive experience in Mr. A’s world.

What do you hope people take away from your world—a feeling, a mindset, a spark?
I’ve always seen my art as something that belongs to everyone, that everyone can interpret and make their own.