At only 8 years old, Max Alexander has already proven himself as the future of fashion. But the young designer is already having an impact on the industry even in the present.
Max has been creating clothes since he asked his mom, Sherri Madison, for a doll at the age of 4. Since then, he has made more than 100 custom dresses, hosted shows and dressed celebrities such as Sharon Stone and Debra Messing, and his combined achievements have earned him a Guinness World Record for the youngest fashion designer.
About an hour after showing at New York Fashion Week on Sept. 10, Max told PEOPLE that the world record is his proudest achievement.
“I thought I’d be about 10 when it happened, or maybe more,” he said, looking chic beyond his years in a gray jacket, cuffed shorts, a pearl necklace and Gucci sandals. Gladiator-style flats seemed like a natural footwear choice, given that Max previously told PEOPLE that he believes he was the founder of the eponymous fashion house in a past life.
Max Alexander with a model in a dress from his latest collection debuted at NYFW.
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Nevertheless, the young tailor creates his name and affirms his own style with each new creation. During his recent NYFW event at the Conrad New York Downtown Hotel, Max hosted a meet and greet for his latest collection, consisting of six never-before-seen dresses. Between dresses with laces around the neck and ones made from recycled coffee bean bags, each new garment was as wacky as its designer.
Max’s favorite piece featured at fall’s craziest event? “The floral dress,” he said, referring to a vintage wedding dress he repurposed by covering it with colorful netting and organza. He embellished the number with a rainbow selection of fabric flowers, which cover the high-necked bodice and pattern across the draped skirt.
The young artist — who has more than 3 million followers on Instagram — complements his design talent with a hearty, sustainable spirit. He is against fast fashion production that wastes material, and as seen in some of his latest pieces, Max has a knack for transforming old textiles.
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Max Alexander with a model in a dress from his latest collection debuted at NYFW.
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However, this does not mean that she completely avoids buying new fabrics. In fact, Max’s mother told PEOPLE that famous specialty sewing store Mood Fabrics is his version of the happiest place on Earth.
“Before, I asked him, ‘Do you want to go to Disneyland? We should go,'” Madison recalled. “He said, ‘Can we go to Mood instead?’ ”
Whether he’s feeling the magic at Mood or shopping for essentials at Joann Fabric and Craft, Max lets his instincts guide him when he enters the store. He said he sometimes goes in with a vision, but he’s happy to let the fabric spark a little creativity as well.
In addition to the retail space, Max told PEOPLE that the environment pushes him to create. He is inspired by nature, but shapes his ideas with each collection in mind, and each collection follows a common concept.
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Max Alexander with a model in a dress from his latest collection debuted at NYFW.
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“[I start by] I’m just thinking about the theme of the collection, what I want the theme to be. And then I’ll start making all the dresses that I think go with it. Let’s say it’s fall, I’d make a coat,” Max explained his process, adding, “Let’s say you have a bathing suit and a puffer jacket. It doesn’t go together. You want a swimsuit and maybe another swimsuit that’s different.”
According to the style expert, each item should add a key element to its overall image. When he dreams of a new dress, he said he thinks, “I have to add this to my collection to make it complete.”
With New York Fashion Week behind him, Max isn’t sure what he’ll be working on next. Although his mother reminded him that a family member had given them several bags of coffee beans, Max got to work right away.
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A model wearing one of Max Alexander’s dresses from his latest collection debuted at NYFW.
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“Oh yeah, maybe we’ll make a third coffee dress,” he said, looking at Madison, who plays both supportive parent and assistant seamstress. If Max gets stuck in something in the morning before going to school, he often asks his mom to help him finish it with stitches.
Madison reminded Max that another family member happened to be looking for a jacket made out of coffee bean bags.
“Remember I had blue ones? I should make a blue jacket for her,” he replied. The wheels seemed to be turning in his mind. Maybe the whole collection is in the making in his head, but the eight-year-old spoke casually and confidently, as if inspiration is constantly sparking.
“Yes,” he confirmed. “I just randomly think about things.”
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Source: HIS Education