Patrick Cox has been at the forefront of the fashion scene for more than 30 years – but it’s come with some highs and lows and a period of, let’s say, switching off and re-booting. The British-Canadian designer became internationally renowned for his footwear empire, particularly the iconic “Wannabe” loafer, a style that defined an era during the mid-to-late 1990s. The label was strongly associated with the London fashion boom of that decade – but after a ‘brutal’ exit, Ibiza was calling. Looking for a new beginning, Patrick Cox moved to the island almost a decade ago. What unfolded was not simply campo life in peaceful Santa Gertrudis, but the space to heal, reflect and ultimately reconnect with his creativity. I spoke to the charming style icon about life in Ibiza, his personal transformation and how that journey gave rise to Doors of Perception (DOP), his clothing line, born here from reinvention and inspired by something out of the ordinary.
“After my brutal exit from the Patrick Cox brand, I struggled to find meaning in my life. Hoping for a fresh start I moved to Ibiza over 9 years ago and everything seemed great at first. But then this asshole called Patrick Cox showed up and I realised that after three decades of working in fashion, I didn’t really know myself and, what I did know, I didn’t like,” he says of that period in his life where eventually he ended up in rehab for depression. “Upon leaving rehab I started to micro-dose LSD which helped greatly with my anxiety, but I couldn’t continue with it as it upset my stomach too much. Then I was introduced to the transformative healing powers of smoking the secretions of the Sonoran Desert Toad containing the God molecule, 5MeO-DMT, the Mount Everest of psychedelics” reveals Patrick, who prefers to use the term “entheogen,” meaning to reveal the god within. “The term psychedelics has so much baggage,” he says.
Micro-dosing LSD refers to taking very small, sub-perceptual doses of the substance – typically amounts that do not produce hallucinations. In recent years, it has gained attention in wellness and mental health circles for its reported effects on mood and anxiety. The Sonoran Desert Toad, also known as the Colorado River Toad, produces secretions containing 5MeO-DMT, a powerful naturally occurring psychedelic compound. Unlike many other psychedelics, 5MeO-DMT is known for producing an intense but often brief experience that users frequently describe as deeply spiritual or ego-dissolving. It remains a substance of interest in scientific research exploring altered states of consciousness and mental wellbeing.
As it dawned on Patrick that the one piece of his story that still felt unfinished was what he does best – creating and designing – the next chapter became one of rediscovery. After working with what he describes as “this miraculous medicine” over the past few years, Patrick shares his experience. “I healed myself, my past and my relationships with my friends and family. Emerging from my self-imposed psychedelic cocoon, I realised the one thing that I hadn’t made peace with was my creativity so… next came my Doors of Perception brand. I call what I do entheogenic apparel that is sustainably sourced and embroidered with love with Ibiza.”
Patrick describes it as consciousness-raising clothing suffused with spirituality. “I hope it will normalise the conversation around mental health and psychedelics. I have been running my whole life and I’ve finally stopped running. I’ve found peace and I’d like to share that peace.” The brand that he started three years ago consists of sustainably sourced clothing and accessories such as sweatshirts and baseball caps which are finished with colourful embroidered detailing here on the island, by a small local business. “They are a husband and wife team; Gaston and Nieves – he’s Argentinian and she was born and raised in Ibiza with Canadian parents,” shares Patrick, who later expanded into sourcing vintage army surplus garments and sourcing stock denim items from companies like Gap.
“Now I have expanded into footwear (made in Italy) and leather bags (made in Ubrique, Spain). The “Four Eyes” sandals I launched last summer were my first foray into designing shoes in almost a decade,” reveals Patrick. The designer likes to be informative and educate his customers about all things psychedelic, as reflected in his eye-catching new cactus motif. The design combines sublimation, appliqué, and embroidery techniques on men’s swim shorts made from 100% recycled nylon. “With my new group, “Cactus”, I explain to people that the name of my brand Doors of Perception, is taken from the same title of the groundbreaking book written by Aldous Huxley, while under the influence of the psychedelic mescaline. The New World cacti Peyote and San Pedro are the source of this magical molecule – and I celebrate these sacred plant medicines with my designs.” When I asked Patrick who the collection is aimed at he says, “Obviously the client can buy something simply because they like the design and think the item is cool – but I encourage them to go deeper.”
