Check Out Oberon Alexander’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Oberon Alexander

Hi Oberon, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in a low-income family in Nevada City, CA, where my enchantment with fashion took root at the age of seven. It started with deconstructing household items to create clothing, with my first dress fashioned from a pillowcase. During high school, I further explored my love for design by draping directly on my best friend, Elana Rose, an extraordinary artist and model. Together, we brought our ideas to life through photoshoots around our hometown, building a portfolio that earned me a full scholarship to Otis College of Art and Design’s summer program at the age of 17. This experience solidified my technical foundation and fueled my commitment.
My time in Otis’s summer program inspired me to stay in Los Angeles, where I felt deeply connected to the creative community;
I graduated in 2022 with a BFA in Fashion Design.

My first project out of school was as a freelance custom designer for TLZ La Femme, where I worked on Jayda Cheaves’ BET Awards look. Shortly thereafter, I began collaborating with Daniel Vi Le on custom designs for Cult Gaia. This led to me joining the RTW design team under my mentor, Paolo Rosicarelli, and contributing to their R24 runway collection and subsequent seasons, as well as custom projects for high-profile clients. Simultaneously, I nurtured my personal design identity, working on custom creations for individuals like dancer Kyla Fajardo (for her music video “Questions”), dancer and model Sheela Awe (for the 2024 VMAs red carpet), and Fine artist/model Caitlyn Mwenifumbo (for a private event), often collaborating with my twin flame stylist, Hannah Damp.

In October 2024, I made the decision to leave Cult Gaia and launch my career as a freelance designer specializing in custom and red-carpet designs. I am now focused on exciting new projects that continue to push my creative boundaries.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been challenges along the way.

When I graduated, I was incredibly nervous. I didn’t have an apartment, car, or job. I relied on friends, couch-surfing at their places, and occasionally rides. Early on, I got freelance work with Cult Gaia, thanks to Hannah Damp, who introduced me to Daniel Vi Le, a fellow Otis alumnus. This led to opportunities to work on custom designs, and I threw myself wholeheartedly into the work.

Starting out with no foundation meant no overhead, allowing every penny to go toward essentials like Uber rides to get to work and food. Working on custom projects often required long, grueling hours, including many all-nighters. Despite the demands, I was incredibly grateful for these opportunities, both financially and creatively.

What made it all possible was my deep love and passion for the work, as well as the support of the close-knit community around me. It wasn’t an easy path, but those early challenges helped me build resilience and appreciation for how far I’ve come.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a fashion designer specializing in couture and embroidery, My aesthetic is rooted in creating unforgettable moments, particularly for the red carpet and editorial. Ultimately, I would love to expand into ready-to-wear, creating collections that blend individuality, artistry, and accessibility while maintaining the same emphasis on craftsmanship and personal expression. My designs embody the essence of deconstructed femininity, blending bold sensuality with a core of empowerment and self-control. Each piece is crafted to make women feel both powerful and irresistibly confident, striking a balance between allure and strength. I’m most proud of two benchmark projects. The first was designing Saweetie’s Cult Gaia custom dress for the 2023 CFDA awards because that was huge moment of realizing my aspirations since I was little. The second being the crystal set made for Kyla Fajardo’s video “Questions” because it felt like the first project that was done under my own name serving a greater artistic expression beyond just a “passion project” and felt like such a huge collaboration and team realization of a unified vision.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As technology advances, it’s crucial to emphasize individuality and artistic expression. Consumers will increasingly be bombarded with AI designs and fast fashion leading them to seek unique, personalized designs that reflect their identity. Fashion will continue to evolve into a platform for bold, creative experimentation, with a focus on craftsmanship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oberonalexander.com
• Instagram: @oberonalexander

Image Credits
Attiken Vega, Cuautemoc Xocoyotzin, AX (@anthonyxrated)