Giani Rocha-Barnes
Bio
BFA AWARD: Collective Vision Designer of the Year
Giani Rocha-Barnes is a New York based artist and designer. With a foundation in visual art, he began by creating graphic designs and screen printing his own patterns. During his time serving in the military, he pursued a visual arts education and pushed himself to develop his clothing line, MXA, which now serves as the foundation for his collections. Drawing inspiration from his military experience, cultural upbringing, and personal interests, he creates work that bridges the gap between streetwear and luxury fashion.
TEXAS
This collection is inspired by my Texas upbringing and the love I have for my roots and the culture that comes from the Dirty South. The idea began when I would leave my TV on while I worked, just for background noise. One show that kept coming on and that I would always leave playing was The Rifleman, a Western show from the 1950s about a U.S. Marshal and his son. The aesthetics and setting of the show sparked the idea for me to go all in on a Texas Western–inspired collection. When it came time to decide what I wanted to showcase and design, I began diving into music and film. Music became one of the most influential components in designing this collection. I listened to many artists I grew up with, as well as newer artists from Texas, from DJ Screw and Mike Jones to Travis Scott and even Pantera. From there, I continued researching what Texas style meant to me, trying to find cues from the past that I could bring into the modern day. Growing up in Texas, style was very distinct. In my city of Killeen, Texas, there was a wide diversity of style. I rolled with all kinds of people, skaters, rappers, hustlers, punks and everyone always had something that carried a flavor of Texas in their own way, whether it was cowboy boots, big belt buckles, or vintage Western clothing. Once I had my foundation, I began designing. One phrase kept coming to mind: “Make it big.” Because of that, many of the designs are oversized, embodying the scale and boldness of the state itself.
As my vision grew, I knew I wanted to collaborate with friends from Texas, many of whom are artists themselves. One of my close friends, Kejaun, immediately jumped in to help. Since we’re both from the same city, he instantly understood where my mind was at. We talked about how people from our community rarely see ourselves represented in fashion and what we could do to bring that culture and perspective into the industry.
Together, we created an illustration of a bluebonnet with barbed-wire stems. The bluebonnet connects people across Texas as the state flower, making it instantly recognizable to anyone from the state while still carrying our own twist. This image will serve as one of the central motifs throughout the collection.
Ultimately, this collection is my way of honoring where I come from and the culture that shaped me. Texas has always been larger than life bold, expressive, and deeply rooted in identity and I wanted the garments to reflect that same energy. By combining Western influences, oversized silhouettes, and symbols like the bluebonnet reimagined through barbed wire, the collection blends heritage with a contemporary perspective. It represents the many layers of Texas culture that I grew up around and serves as a tribute to the people, style, and creative spirit that continue to inspire me.
