{{Short description|American creative director and artist}} {{Infobox fashion designer | birth_place = Los Angeles, California | years_active = 2000–present | occupation = {{hlist|Creative director|Fashion designer|Photographer|Artist}} | label_name = {{plainlist| * ERL (2018–present) }} | alma_mater = University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts }}
'''Eli Russell Linnetz''' is an American creative director, fashion designer, photographer, and artist. He is the founder of the Venice Beach–based fashion label ERL.
==Early life and education== Linnetz was born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts with a degree in screenwriting.<ref name="CFDA2023">{{cite web |title=Eli Russell Linnetz |url=https://cfda.com/members/profile/eli-russell-linnetz |access-date=25 June 2025 |website=Council of Fashion Designers of America}}</ref>
At age 15, he reached out to playwright David Mamet and was invited to assist him in on his theatrical and film/TV productions.<ref name="GQ">{{cite web |last=Holmes |first=Kevin |title=In Florence, Eli Russell Linnetz's Life Is a Movie |url=https://www.gq.com/story/erl-eli-russell-linnetz-pitti-uomo-ss24 |website=GQ |date=14 June 2023 |access-date=4 July 2025}}</ref>
==Career==
=== Film === Linnetz began his creative career as a child voice actor, most prominently providing the voice for the character "Tipo" in Disney's animated feature ''The Emperor's New Groove'' in 2000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Testa |first=Jessica |date=2023-06-15 |title=Fashion's Reluctant It Boy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/style/eli-russell-linnetz-clothing-fashion-designer.html |access-date=2025-06-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 2015, Linnetz wrote, directed, and co-produced the short film ''Afterglow'', starring Sawyer Spielberg and Mary Neely. The film was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick and showcased at several international short film festivals.<ref name="Vimeo">{{cite web |title=Afterglow by Eli Russell Linnetz (Short Film) |url=https://vimeo.com/95331809 |access-date=4 July 2025 |work=Vimeo |date=14 May 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Afterglow |url=https://www.nowness.com/topic/narrative-short/%7B%7B%20$root.location.protocol()%20+%20'://'%20+%20$root.location.host()%20+%20$root.location.path()%20%7D%7D |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=www.nowness.com}}</ref>
=== Fashion === In November 2018, Linnetz launched ERL under the support of Comme des Garçons.<ref name="NYT2022">{{cite news |last=Friedman |first=Vanessa |title=Eli Russell Linnetz Brings Dior to Venice Beach |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/style/dior-erl-venice-beach.html |work=The New York Times |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=2018-11-19 |title=The Kanye & Gaga collaborator on his new (sold out) Nike collection for DSM |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/42263/1/kanye-lady-gaga-collaborator-nike-dover-street-los-angeles-eli-linnetz-russell |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref> The brand is based in his Venice Beach studio and draws from West Coast skate and surf culture, filtered through high-concept visual storytelling.<ref name=":0" />
In 2021, rapper A$AP Rocky wore a custom ERL quilted look to the Met Gala.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Okwodu |first=Janelle |date=2021-09-16 |title=ASAP Rocky and ERL's Rule-Breaking Quilt Captured the Essence of American Fashion |url=https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/asap-rocky-erl-met-gala-2021-quilt-american-fashion |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2022, Linnetz became the first American invited by Kim Jones to co-design a Dior Men's collection. The Dior x ERL capsule debuted with a runway presentation in Venice Beach, California.<ref name="NYT2022" />
In June 2022, Linnetz received the Karl Lagerfeld Award at the 2022 LVMH Prize.<ref name="LVMH2022">{{cite web |title=The Finalists for the 2022 LVMH Prize |url=https://www.lvmhprize.com/the-finalists/2022/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=LVMH Prize}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Silverman |first=Erica |date=2022-06-06 |title=The Winners of the 9th Edition of the 2022 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers Announced |url=https://whitewall.art/fashion/the-winners-of-the-9th-edition-of-the-2022-lvmh-prize-for-young-fashion-designers-announced/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Whitewall |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2023, Linnetz was named Guest Designer for the 104th edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence, Italy. It marked ERL's first full runway presentation.<ref name="Vogue2023a">{{cite web |title=Eli Russell Linnetz of ERL Is Pitti Uomo's Guest Designer |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/erl-eli-russell-linnetz-guest-designer-pitti-uomo |website=Vogue |date=10 January 2023 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref> The collection reimagined Californian youth culture through the lens of Renaissance grandeur and theatrical surrealism.<ref name="GQ" />
===Fine art and exhibitions===
In 2017, Linnetz directed the short film ''You're In'' in collaboration with Comme Des Garçon and the Andy Warhol Foundation.<ref name="Showstudio">{{cite web |title=ERL – SHOWstudio contributor profile |url=https://www.showstudio.com/contributors/erl |website=SHOWstudio |access-date=2025-06-25 }}</ref>
In 2019, Linnetz was featured in ''The Big Flat Now'' at Galerie Crone in Vienna, alongside Rosemarie Trockel, Jonathan Castro, Thomas Lohr, Mike Meiré, and Sterling Ruby.<ref>{{Cite web |last=032c |date=2019-09-26 |title=In Vienna, THE BIG FLAT NOW Enters the White Cube {{!}} 032c |url=https://032c.com/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=032c.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=THE BIG FLAT NOW – CURATED BY JOERG KOCH |url=https://www.artnet.com/galleries/galerie-crone/the-big-flat-now-curated-by-joerg-koch/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=www.artnet.com}}</ref>
In 2021, Linnetz was featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute exhibition ''In America: A Lexicon of Fashion.''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tashjian |first=Rachel |date=2021-09-21 |title=The Costume Institute's New Exhibition Understands the Emotional Power of American Fashion |url=https://www.gq.com/story/costume-institute-in-america-review |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, Linnetz held his first solo exhibition, ''Monuments'', at Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in Los Angeles. The installation featured sculptural reinterpretations of iconic American imagery.<ref name="Hypebeast">{{cite web |title=Eli Russell Linnetz Launches 'MONUMENTS' Exhibit |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/7/eli-russell-linnetz-monuments-exhibit-jeffrey-deitch-gallery-los-angeles-mount-rushmore-pizza-oven |website=Hypebeast |date=11 July 2024 |access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref><ref name="Lofficiel">{{cite web |title=Eli Russell Linnetz Unveils Debut Exhibition At Jeffrey Deitch Gallery |url=https://www.lofficielusa.com/art/eli-russell-linnetz-debut-exhibition-monuments |website=L'Officiel USA |date=11 July 2024 |access-date=2025-06-25}}</ref>
===Visual and creative direction=== Linnetz has worked as a creative director, photographer, and visual collaborator for a wide range of major artists, global brands, and publications. His artist and celebrity collaborations include Lady Gaga, Grimes, Shawn Mendes, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and A$AP Rocky.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hypebeast100 2022 |url=https://hypebeast.com/hb100/2022 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Hypebeast}}</ref> He has produced campaigns and visual content for brands such as Apple, Adidas, Tesla, Burberry, Bvlgari, Guess, Coca-Cola, Skims, and McDonalds.<ref name="LBB">{{cite web |title=Fashion Designer and Filmmaker Eli Russell Linnetz Signs with PRETTYBIRD |url=https://lbbonline.com/news/fashion-designer-and-filmmaker-eli-russell-linnetz-signs-with-prettybird |work=LBB Online |date=14 May 2025 |access-date=2025-07-04}}</ref>
Music videos include "Fade" (starring Teyana Taylor) for Kanye West featuring Post Malone, and "Nervous" for Shawn Mendes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=2016-08-31 |title=Meet the 24-Year-Old Director Bringing Kanye West's Visions to Life |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/01/arts/music/eli-russell-linnetz-kanye-west-fade.html |access-date=2025-07-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiner |first=Zoë |date=2018-06-11 |title=Who Do the Hands Caressing Shawn Mendes in His New Music Video Belong To? |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/shawn-mendes-just-released-his-nervous-video-and-the-internet-is-freaking-out |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Teen Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref> On stage, he served as creative director for Lady Gaga's Las Vegas residency ''Enigma,'' and has provided live creative direction for Kanye West, Normani, Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber.<ref name="Interview2017">{{cite web |title=Eli Russell Linnetz |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/eli-russell-linnetz |work=Interview Magazine |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=26 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=California Dreaming With Eli Russell Linnetz {{!}} GOAT |url=https://www.goat.com/editorial/eli-russell-linnetz-interview-greatest-magazine |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=www.goat.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahead of his Dior takeover, get to know fashion wunderkind Eli Russell Linnetz |url=https://hero-magazine.com//article/213008/eli-russell-linnetz-dior |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Hero |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bad Bunny's Best Outfits Of All Time And Style Evolution |url=https://www.complex.com/style/a/lei-takanashi/bad-bunny-style-evolution |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref> In September 2020, Linnetz shared the previously unreleased music video for the Tyga song "Feel Me" through his Instagram account three years later after it was filmed in 2017, ultimately being scrapped after Tyga's breakup with Kylie Jenner. It features both Jenner and her older sister Kim Kardashian, partners of Tyga and Kanye West at the time, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/tyga-kanye-west-feel-me-music-video-eli-russell-linnetz |title=Watch Tyga and Kanye West's Unreleased "Feel Me" Music Video |date=2020-09-03|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Hypebeast|last=Johnson|first=Patrick}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/09/03/previously-unreleased-video-tyga-kanye-west-feel-me |title=Previously unreleased video for Tyga and Kanye West's “Feel Me” surfaces |date=2020-09-03|access-date=2020-09-03|website=The Fader|last=Elder|first=Sajae}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/tracewilliamcowen/unreleased-kanye-tyga-video-kim-kardashian-giving-birth-to-kylie-jenner |title=Previously Unreleased Kanye and Tyga Video Features Kim Kardashian Giving Birth to Kylie Jenner |date=2020-09-03|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Complex|last=Cowen|first=Trace William}}</ref>
Linnetz's photography has appeared on covers and in editorial features in numerous publications, including ''Vogue'', ''GQ'', ''Interview, DUST, Purple, 032c, Vogue Italia, Hypebeast, Highsnobiety, and Kaleidoscope.'' Notable shoots include Pharrell Williams, The Rock, and John Mulaney for the 2024 GQ "Man of the Year" issue, Hailey Bieber for ''Vogue'', and numerous covers for ''Interview'' including The Weeknd and Selena Gomez.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside GQ's Men of the Year 2024 |url=https://www.gq.com/men-of-the-year |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Yotka |first=Steff |date=2021-09-15 |title=Eli Russell Linnetz's ERL Is All Free-Spirited, West Coast Cool |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/eli-russell-linnetz-erl-is-all-free-spirited-west-coast-cool |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eli Russell Linnetz Archives |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/photographers/eli-russell-linnetz |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Awards and recognition== * 2023 – Guest Designer, Pitti Uomo * 2022 – LVMH Prize for Young Designers – Karl Lagerfeld Award *2021 – CFDA Emerging Designer of the Year – nomination *2021 – GQ Breakthrough Designer of the Year<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-06 |title=The 2021 GQ Fashion Awards |url=https://www.gq.com/story/gq-fashion-awards-2021 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://elirusselllinnetz.com/}} * [http://erl.store ERL website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linnetz, Eli Russell}} Category:Living people Category:American fashion designers Category:American photographers Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:People from Los Angeles Category:Year of birth missing (living people)