Lotta Worldwide Is Just Getting Started

Are you sure you're only 21 years old, Mathew Galvez? The lifelong San Franciscan has already accomplished so much—like starting his own label Lotta Worldwide five years ago while a junior at Abraham Lincoln High School. He created branded t-shirts with positive messages to help engage his unmotivated classmates. Today, Lotta continues to foster community and promote social justice through brightly colored streetwear with a unique perspective.  

The fledgling designer began soaking up business smarts (at age 16!) while interning with powerhouse companies likeSalesforce and Stitch Fix. In other words, it's not surprising the go-getter was the recent recipient of a Mini Grant from FiSF. One of two winners, Galvez was awarded a cash grant of $500, a personal consultation with Executive Director Rachel Fischbein, a Patreon subscription and a professional photoshoot and magazine feature (yes, this one). 

A visit to the Lotta Worldwide website gains you entrance into Galvez' world, a welcoming place that's real and positive, and filled with unisex hoodies, tees, sweaters, beanies and other fare favored by hip-hop heads, skaters, artists and entrepreneurs. 

The brand aesthetic and mission stem from the company name and logo, as Galvez explains: "The name was inspired by my father. When he migrated from Guatemala to San Francisco in the 1990s, he landed in Fisherman’s Wharf and began working in a business filled with Italians. As he assimilated, he learned their language. Fast-forward to 2007 when I would often visit my father at work, and everyone would be chatting in Italian. The word constantly being shouted was 'lotta,' to struggle. It always stuck with me. The logo, a group of hands (the community) holding up the world, symbolizes a group of people working together to fight for a mission."

So exactly how does Galvez bring his clothing to life? His design process goes something like this: Take the concepts building in his head (usually inspired by music, movies and daily interactions) to whiteboard ASAP. Create mind map that looks like a spider web with a main idea surrounded by various categories and storylines. Next, edit and flesh out narrative, reach out to local artist to sketch vision, go through iterations until satisfied and then decide on colors and fabrics. Simple. 

Galvez works from a studio in his SF home, and while he doesn't have any full-time employees, he regularly works with various artists, designers, and independent contractors. 

Fabrics often come from his father's home country. "I have created many collections using Tipico, which is a traditional fabric in Guatemala that's hand-woven in vibrant colors. We also use lots of different fabrics from overseas that we get through our partners in China, and we sample fabrics from the Los Angeles garment district," Galvez says. 

Unsurprisingly, Lotta's business was impacted by the pandemic, but Galvez views it through a glass-half-full lens. "Yes, Covid-19 slowed sales dramatically, as many people had to prioritize spending money on essentials. However, it was positive in that it helped me focus on refining our online experience for customers. Plus, I had time to pivot and make my business more engaging on social media," he says.