FASHION FORWARD

{ FASHION FORWARD{ FASHION FORWARD{ BLACK WOMEN ROC{ A SPECIAL TRIBUTE }{ FASHION FORWARD }}}} YOU ARE ENOUGH. ALTERED ECO BY ELISSA MARTIN

BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO PHOTOS BY DOUG MITCHELL, MURRAY YARAVITZ, RHONDA HARRIS & HANNAH KRAVER

Tell us about yourself, and your background.

My name is Elissa and I design clothes and jewelry. I started my fashion designing career as soon as I graduated from Cazenovia College last year in May. I grew up in Syracuse. I lived with my mom and my sister.

What is Altered Eco and where did you come up with your name?

I’ve always been inspired by nature, it’s just so beautiful and I can’t understand why humans would want to mess that up? But here we are facing issues with our environment. The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, the first is the oil industry.

Altered Eco is a brand that believes in sustainability and preserving the planet. This is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I use thrifted clothing and jewelry, donated clothes and fabric and turn them into upcycled fashion. This is my way of helping to preserve and care for our planet. Altering the eco system and trying to change the way we as humans treat the earth.

Why did you choose fashion designing as a career?

I chose fashion design as a career because it is something that I’ve always loved and dream of doing. I remember drawing girls in cute outfits when I was young girl. When I became an adult had an unrelenting feeling that I just couldn’t shake. The thought of being a fashion designer tugged at me until I gave in…and here we are!!

Who and which things are the inspiration behind creating your

looks?

I’ve always been inspired by nature, it’s just beautiful. My very first collection was inspired by birds of paradise. The second and current collection was inspired by the moon and stars. The next collection coming this spring is inspired by flowers.

What does fashion mean to you?

For me fashion is happiness. It makes me happy, it’s something that makes perfect people feel good, if you look good, you feel good and I love making people happy and I love making people feel good. That makes me feel good.

According to you, what are the skills that are necessary for becoming a successful fashion designer?

Skills that I would say that you need to be a successful designer are courage, confidence, commitment, collaboration and connections.

Tangible skills would be sewing, knowing what fabric does, how it moves, specific uses and drawing.

What makes you hustle?

My passion, my love for fashion, my work ethic and my kids I want the best for them.

How would you define your personal style?

My style is all over the place, its all encompassing. It’s daring, it’s bold, it’s different, it’s unapologetic, it’s unique, and it’s me

What is your favorite material to work with and why?

My favorite material to work with is toole I like it because it flows nice it gives volume. It’s pretty it’s feminine you can make it edgy. You can make it soft. You can make it bold.

“I’ve always been inspired by nature, it’s just beautiful. My very first collection was inspired by birds of paradise.The second and current collection was inspired by the moon and stars.”

What was your first job outside of fashion?

My very first job outside of fashion was McDonald’s. My career for thirteen years was a teaching assistant before I became a fashion designer. I actually quit my fulltime job at the age of 37 and went back to school to follow my dream of being a fashion designer and it’s the best decision I ever made

Who are some of the people fashion designers that inspire you and why? The number one reason why I am a designer and want to be a costume designer is because of Betsey Johnson. I feel like she is the closest to my personal style. I can look at her designs without looking at a tag and I know it’s her, that’s what I want people to do when they see my work, I want them to just look at an item and know it’s me.

She inspires me because she’s carefree. Her fashion is fun and how many 70+—year-olds do you know that are doing cartwheels on the runway. I’d love her energy, her boldness and her love for life.

one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?

I would’ve told myself not to listen

to anybody else your dream is your dream it is not their dream. How do you know that you can’t do it if you haven’t tried, they haven’t tried, so don’t let anybody dictate to you what you can and can’t do.

How is working in fashion different today than from when you started out ?

Fashion now is different than when I first started because of Covid, it changed the way a lot of things were done things went more towards social media as far as virtual fashion shows. That made me want to do more videobased fashion videos don’t get me wrong, I love to do in person Fashion Shows, but I really want to get more into making cinematic fashion videos.

What has been your proudest moment in your career?

My proudest moment would be doing this interview right here right now and landing a job working in the wardrobe department at Syracuse Stage. My proudest moment is looking back a year ago and seeing where I am today and how far I’ve come. My proudest moment will always be my current situation, because I always strive to do better and be

“Altered Eco is a brand that believes in sustainability and preserving the planet. This is something that is very near and dear to my heart.”

better and push myself and go ten extra miles.

What role do you think social media plays in fashion today and what is your favorite platform?

Social media is huge just like I mentioned before social media is a place to reach people you wouldn’t normally reach, social media is a place to see things that you would never see. Social media probably inspires me more than anything. I still make most my connections in person. But social media as a way for me to express my self and show what I’ve done what I’m doing and I hope my journey inspires and motivates people to follow their dreams. My favorite platform would probably be instagram.

Where do you want the Altered Eco brand to go? What is your dream?

Oh boy, where would I like Altered Eco to go? I would like for Altered Eco to go on the red carpet. That’s where I would like for it to go. That’s one of my goals.

If you could only have 1 piece out of your collection what would it be any why? If I could have only one dress out of my collection, it will be the first upcycled piece I ever made, it was the inspiration for my latest collection. That will be my gold star dress. It was my graduation dress from College. The meaning behind the dress is “If you can dream it you can do it” it be on my favorite quote it’s what my graduation cap said and I just felt like I needed to make a whole line based on the idea of the moon and stars, dreaming and pursuing your goal

How do you want women to feel when wearing your clothes? They feel exactly how I want them

to feel. I have been told that my clothes are comfortable. I have been told that my clothes make them feel confident, beautiful and that they don’t want to take them off so that’s what I want to portray. I want people to feel confident and feel good in their clothes because that boosts your mood and your overall mental health and well-being.

What do you have planned for the next year? What about five years from now?

What do I have planned for next year? I am planning to do New York Fashion Week again. I am planning to do Syracuse fashion week. I am planning a benefit fashion show in the spring.

I’m making connections in the theatre and film world and aspiring to be a costume designer for theatre, movies, and tv shows.

I want a space to facilitate sewing classes and model workshops. I want to help and models and photographers. I want to help launch models careers, teach them how to walk, help them put together comps cards and book them for fashion shows. I want get new photographers taking pictures for Fashion Show’s taking pictures for the models for the comp cards .

I’m Also working on my Etsy shop. I have starting selling my products online and vending at local events as well. I’m starting with jewelry and then I’ll be moving into apparel.

Five years from now I will be a celebrity stylist and costume designer.

Where will we see you next?

In the very near future I will be popping up next in Schenectady New York on October 29 for a fashion show called runway of terror.

{ FASHION FORWARD{ BLACK WOMEN ROC{ A SPECIAL TRIBUTE }{ FASHION FORWARD }}} YOU ARE ENOUGH. DANTE MARCELINE CREATOR OF IDK IK

BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO PHOTOS BY DOUG MITCHELL, MURRAY YARAVITZ, RHONDA HARRIS & HANNAH KRAVER

Tell us about yourself, and your background.

My name is Dante Marceline. I am a 21 year old artist and designer from Troy, NY. I graduated from Lansingburgh High School and am currently taking time off from college to pursue projects and my brand, IDK IK.

When did you start the IDKIK fashion line? What do the letters stand for?

I started IDK IK in 2019 during my freshman year of college. A time when I did not fully understand myself. I was trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. Thats when I came up with the idea of IDK IK, also known as I don’t know I know. The letters stood for how I felt. I thought I knew who I was but I really did not know.

What made you decide to start creating fashions?

I was always interested in art and fashion. My parents have a custom apparel business, so I was able to create a design with the letters IDKIK. I put these designs on t-shirts, hoodies and sweatpants. I created 20 original outfits, by repurposing exiting items adding IDKIK designs on them for a fashion show at my college during my Freshman year. I gained a lot of recognition from the outfits I created, but then Covid happened and my momentum was stopped. Within the last year, I was able to gain momentum again, but I am a few years older, so design asthetic has matured some. I want to create original apparel rather than repurposing existing apparel.

Who and which things are the inspiration behind creating your looks?

My two biggest inspirations are the

artist Kazimir Malevich and the designer Maison Margiela. I find inspiration from movies and music as well. Artists such as Kurt Cobain, Marilyn Monroe and Playboi Carti. I find inspiration from alternative icons and the early anti-fashion movement. Fashion is a way to express yourself and be yourself. Its also a form of art. In my opinion its the coolest form of art since you can wear it. Clothes create the first impression and fashion allows a person to express who they are through what they wear.

What do you feel are some of the skills necessary for becoming a successful fashion designer?

To become a successful fashion designer you have to have the passion for the art of fashion. You have to find the balance between art and clothing.

What makes you hustle?

My hustle and motivation comes from my passion for art. I love creating. The ability to bring my concepts to life is satisfying and to have people respond to what I create is rewarding.

How would you define your personal style?

My personal style is mainly anti-fashion streetwear. I wear black and white mainly. My style tends to grow and change over time.

What is your favorite material to work with and why?

I am still experimenting with materials but my current favorite material is cotton canvas.

What was your first job outside of fashion?

I was a camp counselor at a summer camp for kids.

“I started IDK IK in 2019 during my freshman year of college. A time when I did not fully understand myself.”

Who are some of the people fashion designers that inspire you and why?

Maison Margiela, Heliot Emil, Rick Owens, Virgil Abloh, and Alexander Mcqueen are some of my biggest inspirations for my fashion design. They all have designs and aesthetics that I enjoy.

What’s your greatest strength as an up and coming fashion designer?

My ability to understand the different facets of the fashion industry. From the culture, style, trends, history, and business practices. I am very adaptable and a quick learner.

What has been your most exciting moment in your career and why?

Seeing my first collection on over 20 models.

What role do you think social media plays in fashion today and what is your favorite platform?

Social media has replaced the traditional runway with the ability to share your collection to the whole world. I prefer Instagram. I enjoy alternative ways through custom websites to share your collection as well.

What is your dream for your fashion brand?

My dream is to be able to share my clothing with the world and have a career in fashion.

If you could only have 1 piece out of your collection what would it be and why?

A hard choice but I will go with my custom grey IDK IK jeans. The pants were my longest custom project to

date. Around 50 hours of work into them. They came out perfect.

How do you want people to feel when wearing your clothes?

Cool, Confident and Comfortable. I want people to feel like they don’t care what other people think. Only thing that should matter is how you feel.

What do you have planned for the next year? What about five years from now?

I plan on completing and documenting my newest collection.

Sharing my collection at various shows and events. In five years I hope to be settled into my fashion career.

Where will we see you next?

I will be showcasing more of my collection at a couple of events this year and next. All of it will be shared via Instagram (1dk1k) and Facebook (IDKIK).

What is one thing people don’t know about you? Although I am quiet and tend to stay out of the spotlight, I am not afraid to get out there and share my art. I have done performances in the past that put me into the center of attention.

What programs do you use to create your designs?

I create my designs with Corel draw and photoshop. For 3d rendering and designing I use Clo3d.

Tell me about your design influences.

My design influences come from my inspirations. I enjoy anti-fashion design from the late 80s and 90s. For my brand IDKIK, the questioning of myself and who I am influence my designs.

“Fashion is a way to express yourself and be yourself. Its also a form of art. In my opinion its the coolest form of art since you can wear it.”

IKIDK

Fall Collection 2022 IDKIK.com