Finding Love and Light with Enrique Larios
We believe new ideas, people, and passions make our community stronger.
That's why we launched the Artist Series to elevate voices of historically underrepresented artists and athletes in the outdoors community. This year, we partnered with illustrator and graphic designer Enrique Larios to create a vibrant collection that celebrates the beauty of love, unity, and community. As Enrique says, ''Everyone should feel empowered, feel like they belong, feel capable of creating, and feel capable of just being.” And we agree. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. It’s the moments spent together—when we get to be our truest selves—that matter most.
We traveled to the vibrant streets of Mexico City to connect with Enrique and hear his story and how it speaks to us all.
Burton: Can you tell us about your background and how you got started as an artist?
Enrique: I started drawing, and then I began to experiment with digital illustrations; those managed to get me noticed a bit in Guadalajara, and from there, people began to seek me out to work on local projects in the city and art events, so I started going deeper into that world.
Your style has been described as a mix between reality and what could have been. Why do you enjoy playing with the parameters of reality, and how else would you describe your work?
I’d describe my work as a diary where I can express how I’m feeling because I’m not good with my words or writing. So, for me, that’s what illustrations are. Putting my feelings into a medium is an escape for me—whether it’s physical or digital form.
What inspires you to select your subject matter? Where do you draw most of your influence from?
I take lots of inspiration from my walks because they help calm my nerves. Walking around the street and seeing the flowers, architecture, and colors greatly inspires my art. I take those ideas and colors and try incorporating them into my illustrations.
Your art is notably vibrant and colorful. What drives your choice of colors, and what are your sources of inspiration?
The fountain of inspiration for my colors is Mexico. I believe Mexico is a super colorful country. The architecture and flowers inspire my color selection a lot.
Did you incorporate any specific design elements or symbols into your collection that hold personal significance for you or the LGBTQIA+ community?
I incorporated as many colors of the flags from the LGBTQIA+ community as possible. And everyone is trying to reach the goal of reaching the sun which represents light and hope.
How do you see your collaboration contributing to greater diversity and acceptance?
I see this collaboration as a way of opening the doors for more artists of the community so they can be daring and show their art so that brands can seek out these artists and work together to create messages that reach the whole world.
What are your future aspirations and goals as an artist, especially in terms of LGBTQIA+ advocacy and art?
My future artistic aspirations are to keep supporting my community, especially the trans community, which is very persecuted and victimized in Mexico. And in some way, I don’t want to be a savior, but I want to contribute in my own way to helping.
Artists like Enrique dedicate their life’s work to making the world brighter and more accepting—and it’s our goal to do the same. Snowboarding deserves equitable access and to feel like a place where everyone can belong. We are so honored to spend time with Enrique, learn from him, and share his inspiring story.
This year's Artist Series collection features a limited-edition Hometown Hero Snowboard, sweatshirt, t-shirts, and hat thoughtfully created by Enrique to promote inclusivity and radical self-expression. This collection highlights our year-round dedication to the LGBTQIA+ community. We believe that real change comes from action, and we're committed to breaking down barriers and creating a welcoming space for everyone in snowboarding.
One last message from Enrique: