Alabama Blonde is a fashion designer, artist, creative director and musician who has recently moved from Melbourne to L.A. and is killing it! Specialising in genderless fashion with loads of latex and leather, I was blessed to meet and work with her 2 years ago when she was launching her “Du Mal” collection during Melbournes Fashion Festival. How could I resist volunteering to work at a fashion show at the Old Melbourne Gaol? It was right up my alley – this designer loved everything I did including skulls and roses, tattoos and all things creepy. I was hooked!
While studying the work of Stanford Meisner in NYC in her early 20’s she got a job as a session singer in some New York recording studios. In-between sessions she started working with leather, studding, pinning, gluing as she didn’t have a sewing machine. She moved back to Australia while completing her honours degree, and continued to play in punk bands. Fast forward to a few years later she was creating and casting her own films. She was nominated for the ‘Achievement in Casting’ Award by the Casting Guild of Australia. The premiere of her second film, Matrimony, was sold out in Melbourne, and following this, was invited to be headlined Subvrt magazine’s ‘Playhouse Grote3k’ Film Festival. “Matrimony was very dear to me, and the team with whom I collaborated with, as it addressed Australia’s political stance on gay marriage in a very necessary and confronting way aiming to acknowledge and champion the journey that it takes to commit to yourself, all of yourself, completely – despite all the odds, negativity, pity, judgment & moments in between.” Alabama said.
Matrimony was brilliant! I helped with that one also and many of the same faces were there as Du Mal. I made so many latex bows I lost count haha. Alabama has such a beautiful energy so she attracts amazing people that feels more like a party catching up with friends than a show.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a casting director and filmmaker. I believe in the power of film and moving image. It is such a powerful medium. For me, I want to make sure what I am putting out there is for good and for positive change. I didn’t get into this industry for any other reason. I have a sensitivity to the human experience and I think because of that, I am very passionate about telling stories which offer something that lingers long after the credits roll. Film is necessary escapism, necessary education and a way to find connection and understanding. I think we need an array of perspectives when it comes to film otherwise, we are only experiencing life and humanity through one lens – with which we cannot connect with and we cannot grow. That I have lived my life through a female lens. I believe I have had to prove myself more and I have had to fight for myself more. I have had more of an awareness of what I look like & how I am perceived, how I am meant to behave etc… and I have overcome all of that. I have fought to have my work and my word recognized for its worth, and not for its gender. But in that, I want to be able to create a platform for all identifying genders to have a voice.
I also continue to create garments under my label Alabama Blonde. I specialize in leather and latex and I do not believe garments should be categorized as simply male or female. We are beyond that. I like to work directly with clients to perfect the fit on their body, because feeling good and empowered in ourselves and in our garments is something I am very passionate about.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
I think being contacted for collaborations is wonderful – particularly if there is a concept someone has, and you immediately know they have hit you up specifically to execute that concept, because your work lends itself to that.
I think it’s important to have taken that time and put in that thought.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
@alabamablonde
I am relaunching my website http://www.alabamablonde.com
@striketheblonde_casting
Get in touch!
Contact Info:
- Address: Downtown LA
- Website: www.alabamablonde.com
- Email: blonde.alabama@gmail.com
- Instagram: alabamablonde
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/blondealabama/
- Other: @striketheblonde_casting
Image Credit:
1) Hana Schlesinger 2) Ramy Youssef 3) Furmina Ahmed 4) Hana Schlesigner 5) Lloyd Galbraith 6) The Furies 7) Sequoia Emmanuelle 8) Ola Wilk
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