Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.
Age: 26
Occupation: Fashion designer.
Instagram: @marshall.columbia
Hometown: Denver.
Studio location: Brooklyn.
Describe what you make: I love to play with my work. I design clothes and accessories with bright colors and texture being huge parts of my design language. I was always making arts and crafts as a kid; beading, sculpting, collaging. And those are elements I often reference in my work. My work feels very nostalgic to me yet complementary to who I am today.
The most important thing you’ve designed to date: Every project is just as important as the next, especially as I’m still building the foundation of my work. But a recent project I’m very proud of is my custom work for Dua Lipa’s International tour. Working on the same project as some of my design idols Donatella Versace, Demna, and Casey Cadwallader was one of the biggest highlights of my career.
Describe the problem your work solves: Color has such powerful qualities that can shape a person’s mood and energy on a daily basis and there can always be more of it in fashion, especially in New York. As you may be able to tell from my work, I personally resonate with brighter colors to add a bit of happiness and calm to my everyday. Clothing is of course so integral to everyone’s life, so I work to bring people’s energy and happiness up with every piece I design.
Describe the project you are working on now: I’m working on expanding my handbag collection. Over the past year, I’ve realized that I find more enjoyment in the process of designing accessories than clothing because I’m able to be so much more creative and sculptural with them. A bag’s only requirement is that it has to hold something and the rest is free rein. The ambiguity of that is what’s most exciting.
A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I just released my third collection, which is my first time stepping into working in menswear as well as womenswear. This collection explores my personal journey as a queer person growing up in a conservative community in the suburbs of Colorado. Although very personal, still very playful and light-hearted. This collection will be available exclusively on SSENSE in the coming weeks.
What you absolutely must have in your studio: It has to be colorful, music always needs to be playing, and I prefer when there’s people around while I work.
What you do when you’re not working: There aren’t a lot of non-working moments these days, but when I can, I love seeing my friends and hanging around the city (especially in the summer). Running a small business can be very emotionally exhausting so it’s important for me to feel grounded by the people around me.
Sources of creative envy: Jean Paul Gaultier, Elsa Schiaparelli, Ettore Sottsass, Gianni and Donatella Versace.
The distraction you want to eliminate: I wish I could eliminate my phone most days.
Concrete or marble? Concrete.
High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse.
Remember or forget? Remember.
Aliens or ghosts? Aliens.
Dark or light? Light.
