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Mandoh Melendez @mandoh Bello Creative Minds October 2025 edition
Brought to you by @buttonsearbuds
Mandoh Melendez is a Los Angeles–based designer and stylist whose work blends cultural heritage, personal identity, and a bold, rebellious aesthetic. Drawing from early experiences designing for local music groups, he developed a sharp eye for creating pieces that challenge convention while remaining deeply authentic. Melendez is the founder of NETA, a street-style brand that reflects his commitment to self-expression and storytelling through fashion. His portfolio spans from red carpet styling to contributions in film, television, and editorial shoots, showcasing a versatility rooted in creativity and adaptability. At the heart of his work is a dedication to celebrating diversity and pushing the boundaries of what fashion can communicate.
B: Creativity often strikes in unexpected ways, where do you find yourself most inspired, and how do you capture those ideas before they slip away?
MM: I’m most inspired by my surroundings. When I’m thinking of a project, my mind opens up almost like a “Raven Symone” flashback—I start piecing things together, whether it’s something I saw years ago or something I just came across. I dive into my memory, start painting in my head, and before I know it, I’ve created art. I often take screenshots along the way and later turn them into vision boards that guide my process.
B: Every artist has a “why.” What drives your creative process at its core?
MM: My “why” is simple: I need to create in order to breathe. The thoughts in my mind have to find a way out—through art, design, or storytelling. Growing up in a Latin household where creativity wasn’t part of the survival menu, I learned to pack those ideas away and tell myself I’d “save them for later.” Well, right now is my later.
B: Can you share a moment when a creative risk you took completely transformed your work or your perspective?
MM: I remember working with Salina Estitties on her package for RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 and thinking, this is either going to be a huge payoff or people just won’t understand it. Not everyone liked Picasso, but that never changed the fact that he took risks and became one of the greatest painters. I see this moment in the same way. I’m incredibly proud of the work Salina and I created. Regardless of how some people interpreted it, I know the right people felt the love, passion, and statement we were making.
B: How do you balance the tension between staying true to your personal vision and creating work that resonates with an audience?
MM: There are very few times I’ve struggled with being true to myself, and that’s because I approach every project with love and pride. Sometimes my vision doesn’t align exactly with what a collaborator wants, but I work hard to find a harmony that preserves my personal flair while still making the project—and the person—shine. At the heart of it, my purpose is simple: I want people to feel happy, confident, and celebrated through my work.
B: If your creative journey were a canvas, what colors, textures, or emotions would define it right now?
MM: The streets, my culture, my experience—that’s my foundation. Colors will always be the rainbow, because why not use every shade to create? Textures mix the grit of rough denim with the softness of silks and wools. The emotions behind my work are confidence, self-love, and risk-taking. Maybe risk-taking isn’t technically an emotion, but it fuels me, so I’ll claim it as one.
B: Looking ahead, what kind of impact do you hope your artistic output leaves?
MM: I hope my art inspires people in low-income communities to realize that they, too, can pursue art as a career. It may not happen on the timeline we want, but if you truly love something, it will always find its way back to you. I’ll never forget what Law Roach once told me: “just do it.” Those words helped guide me to where I am today, and I hope they can spark the same drive in someone else.
Photographer / Videographer Yash Singh @yashxsinghofficial
Stylist AmbiKa B Sanjana @styledbyambika
Interview Isha Parekh @isha_parekhh
Production @bellomediagroup × @maisonprivee_