Meet Alexandra Mot | Fashion designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexandra Mot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandra, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I grew up in a city in Hungary where the arts weren’t too huge, everyone would say to stay away from pursuing it “because there’s no way you can make a career out of it”. I feel like it was the lack of it that made it all the more interesting to me. I started drawing and painting in Kindergarten but really found my avenue in fashion. I started collecting dolls and the Monster High fashion dolls became my favorite as a 2000s child. I would draw clothes and heels all the time during class and breaks, even brought my dolls to school to play with when it was allowed. For a while I didn’t know what I wanted to do growing up because I had no idea working in fashion was a career option at all. I stumbled across some fashion shows on Youtube and Alexander McQueen’s just changed my life then and there. It really reminded me of my love of the fashion dolls and alternative creative expression. I decided I wanted to become a fashion designer after that.
I picked up a sewing course on Monday nights outside of high school, then I commuted to Budapest on Saturdays to participate in a beginner level fashion design course. I knew I had to work twice as hard to learn about fashion than any other “regular” subjects. At some point when I was 16 I realized that my country doesn’t offer a program well-rounded enough in fashion design and I decided I needed to move somewhere else once I graduated.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My design style is a combination of gothic subculture, my love for Victorian and witchy elements mixed with crochet. What sets me apart from others is my perspective on fashion as someone from Central/Eastern Europe and my resilience. I think growing up in Hungary cultivated a strong work ethic within me and I was taught to always find a way to solve things, even if it’s out of the box.

It was very challenging to get to where I am today, I moved to Los Angeles when I was only 20 years old. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to even obtain a student visa and give myself a chance to study fashion design in the States. I am a very determined person so no matter the challenges I face, I try to overcome them the best I can. I couldn’t have done it without my parent’s emotional and financial support though.

A lesson I learned since living here is to listen to your intuition and be wary of who you trust. Choose carefully what you put your free-time and energy into, because if you have goals in life, you can’t lose sight of them. Especially if you’re around people who aren’t exactly striving for bigger things in life.

I’m navigating life after graduating community college and trying to land a fashion job is difficult in today’s market. I have a day job to start off with and I’m working on my skills in the meantime to better my chances. I’m also planning to start my own brand soon, but I’m working out the logistics and figuring out what core products I’d make to start off with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First place I’d take my friend to is Boardner’s, I love the goth nights there! Another place would be the Echoplex for a rock concert. Then we’d visit Sunset strip and take a peek in to the Rainbow, Whiskey-a-Go-Go, The Roxy and The Troubadour.
For a dinner I’d take them to a Korean BBQ place or a Pho place, there are so many to choose from in Koreatown. Also Tatsu has heavenly ramen!
My friends and I all love movies so I’d make sure we have time to check out the New Beverly cinema and the Chinese Theatre as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to my Mom, Dad, and my boyfriend for believing in me even before I could and supporting me through the hardest times.

Website: https://www.alexandramot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babybatblossom?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Nagisa Tanaka