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Couture to the Max: Youngest Runway Fashion Designer Max Alexander Heads to Paris Fashion Week
Child fashion prodigy and Guinness World Record holder brings sustainable couture to the Palais Garnier
Max Alexander has been designing for more than half his life. He’s 9 years old.
Well—he actually turns 10 this month, on Feb. 25. The day after his birthday, he’ll board a plane from Los Angeles to Paris. On March 3, Max will stage a runway show during Paris Fashion Week at the famed Palais Garnier.
The fashion prodigy holds the Guinness World Record for Youngest Runway Fashion Designer. He has staged major runway shows in Denver, Los Angeles and Aspen. Two years ago, he showed in New York during Fashion Week.
The successes don’t stop there. Max has designed commissions for celebrities including Sharon Stone and Debra Messing, but his focus is giving back to charities he cares about. His television appearances include Good Morning America, The Tamron Hall Show, and Good Day New York with host Rosanna Scotto.
Max’s lines are sustainable, wildly creative and sculptural. He gained massive attention for his “flower dresses”—a whimsical couture line inspired by nature, featuring calla lilies and upside-down blooms that, like many of his videos, went viral. Last summer, he showed in Aspen with a completely sustainable collection made from coffee bean bags.
Paris Fashion Week at the Palais Garnier
The Paris show is a major milestone.
“I’m excited because the show is at the Opera House,” Max says of the famed Palais Garnier.
He is dedicating the show to one of his mentors, Fern Mallis—the creator of New York Fashion Week and a titan of the fashion industry often called the “godmother of fashion.” The two met when Max was 8, and the connection was immediate.
“He’s one of a kind,” Mallis says. “I don’t know any other young girl or boy doing what he’s doing. He’s got talent, he’s got passion … he really lives and breathes it. He’s a remarkable young man. Wise beyond his years.”
Mallis will have a front-row seat at Max’s Paris show. She says she wouldn’t miss it for the world—and she won’t be the only one cheering him on.
“I think his 8, 9, 10 million followers will be watching and rooting him on,” Mallis says. “I think he’ll continue to succeed. I think anything is possible.”
From Southampton to Paris
This past summer, Max and Mallis collaborated on a line of caftans they showed at Five Story in Southampton. At the meet-and-greet, a steady stream of shoppers popped into the store to see—and buy—the flowing designs, some in greens and golds, some pink, some in cheetah print.
Max was effusive, showing off his favorite caftan—the cheetah.
“I love cheetah prints—everyone should love an animal print,” Max said with a big grin.
As Max talked caftans, shared stories and worked the register, a camera crew headed by award-winning producer-director Dori Berinstein—whose productions include documentaries on Isaac Mizrahi and Kenneth Cole—filmed him for an upcoming documentary.
Hands First, Sketches Never
Max’s creative process may surprise some.
“Max never starts with sketches,” explained a recent TikTok video walking viewers through his process. “He starts with his hands. He started draping before he could read. He wanted to sew instead of going to sleep. Fabric. Imagination. Intention.”
Behind Max’s viral videos and massive social media presence is his mother and manager, Sherri Madison.
“I do all the social, I manage him—everything,” Madison says. “He just has fun.”
For all of her son’s talent and success, Madison is quick to emphasize that “Max is still a kid.” She is adamant about keeping his life stress-free so he is free to create—and have fun. Madison is also raising two other children: a son, Dori (Dorian), 8, and a daughter, Samantha, 14. She says all their birthdays are in February.
We met Max and his mother in the Hamptons this past summer and caught up with them by phone recently, ahead of the Paris show. What follows is our interview with Max’s mother, Sherri Madison, followed by a SPARK Top 10 Questions with Max.
INTERVIEW: Sherri Madison, Max Alexander’s Mother and Manager
How did this start with Max?
He told us at age 4 he was a dressmaker. He didn’t say, “I want to be a dressmaker.” Max said, “I am a dressmaker,” and it was very clear that this is what he wanted to do. I made him a little mannequin and he just started making dresses, and he never stopped.
It’s great that you’ve been so supportive.
I think he was going to do it with or without us, so I thought we should get on board. (Laughs)
Seems like he is very evolved for his years.
It’s a mix between adult and child. He has very adult taste, but he’s 9 for sure. He gets tired.
How did the Paris show come about?
Through social media—as most opportunities have come through—a production company reached out. Originally the show was to be at the former home of Karl Lagerfeld, and Max was excited at the prospect, as he is a big fan, but for various reasons the venue changed. Now it will be at the Palais Garnier, the No. 2 landmark in Paris besides the Louvre. So the dresses are getting bigger.
How many dresses will Max show in Paris?
They told him between 12 and 15 would be ideal. He’s on dress 14 now; he really wants to do 15. He’s under the impression he can keep designing until the day we fly. I think he’ll definitely have 14 dresses.
What will the runway show be like?
I think the show is three to four designers—young, not as young as him. Max will either open the show or be second, likely. His whole line is sustainable—95% of this line he is working on is sustainable, like dead stock and surplus, so stuff that would have gone into a landfill.
He’s got really interesting dresses. One of his biggest dresses is made from a French military parachute. The top is a corset that he spent 10 hours hand-making with the oldest corset-making atelier in Los Angeles, who taught him. The corset, made out of recycled, felt-like couture house duster bags, is just stunning. The artwork on it he drew with the parachute cord.
The Guinness World Record is flying people to Paris—on the final runway they want to give him a Young Achievers Award, so that will be a quick part of the show.
Where does Max get his ideas from?
He did this one dress and it’s gorgeous, with these pleated box pleats, and I asked him, “Where did you get the idea for those pleats? It’s so cool.” He told me he was taking a nap in his grandmother’s bedroom and saw them on her curtains. His ideas come from everyday life. He is always thinking about dresses.
What’s happening with the documentary?
He just wrapped, and hopefully the documentary short will make its world premiere this summer. It is done, and they’ll be in Paris filming as well for another one.
His fur vest with the wings in the back is cool.
The fur vest is the first item we were ever able to manufacture to be sold.
He likes everything to be “limited edition.” So many people wanted the vest, so once a year we release it in a new color. Last year was navy blue, and this year he couldn’t decide and went with two colors.
How does it work with schooling?
He does regular schooling near our home—very close by. We prioritize it. We pack a lot into summer, winter and spring breaks. He will have to miss a few days for Paris. Normally we only try to have one big show a year. Because of Paris, he is not coming to New York this month.
Does he talk about ‘goals’?
He has his eye on Milan. He thinks he is Italian. His dream is to be a very serious couturier in Paris. He’s learning French, and that’s his path.
What happens after Paris?
I’m sure he’ll take this Paris line and show it in a smaller show or for charity. We’re looking into Dubai, London. Max gets offered a fashion week every week around the world. We have a running list, and after Paris we’ll look at it together as a family.
It’s a lot of work to do a runway show.
This time he has a tailor. I told him there is no way he could possibly finish this line in the amount of time he had. He is still sewing half the line himself—that’s been a progression.
We’re really starting to get a team in place so he can grow and have no stress. He makes dresses because it makes him happy. He’s a child. Everything has to happen smoothly, without pressure.
How much time is devoted each day to sewing and everything else?
He goes to school all day. He plays pickleball once a week after school, robotics once a week after school, sewing on Saturdays with his teacher. He has an embroidery club once a month. He plays piano every night for at least 10 to 15 minutes. He plays with his brother every night. He has friends. He has playdates.
He’s a perfectly normal kid—except that he’s a fashion prodigy.
Does he still do commissions?
We stopped doing commissions because it felt like work. There were thousands of people on the list. He doesn’t like to sell; he likes to hold on to it. If he occasionally says he wants to sell, OK.
He will do two or three dresses a year for charity. He really is philanthropic. He loves contributing and raising money for charities he believes in.
He cares about making women feel beautiful and designing for the love of designing.
He sounds very soulful—wise, yet a kid.
He’s an old soul. A very old soul.
What did he think of his time in the Hamptons?
He loved it. It’s totally Max’s speed. He just loves Fern. He adores Fern.
How did Max and Fern meet?
Through social media. I saw she followed and reached out. Max did a two-week residency at The Conrad during New York Fashion Week, and Fern drove in from the Hamptons to meet him. It was instant chemistry. They’ve been close ever since.
Who else does Max look up to in the design world?
Pamella Roland is one of his favorite designers and has been very supportive. He and Isaac Mizrahi are very close—they share a love of cooking. Isaac sent him a stand mixer over the holidays. Max was so excited. Wes Gordon sent him a mannequin with a note saying, “You’re going to be great.”
Max is hoping to do Christian Siriano’s boot camp this summer. Max has taken note of his inclusivity, and on his own website (maxalexander.shop) offers designs up to 4X. Andy Yu in the Hamptons has also given him advice. The support means everything to him.
Fame as a Tool for Doing Good
How do you manage the demand for his designs?
We were getting thousands of messages a week: “How can we buy his work?”
We didn’t start selling Max’s designs because we needed a business for a 9-year-old. He doesn’t have to pay the rent or support the family. He gives back most of anything he earns to charity—that’s who Max is. We come from a place of, “What do you want to do for the world?” and it will all work out.
This is the time in life when he doesn’t need money. Now is when we really need to pound into him that the more you make and the more famous you are, the more you can help the world.
So we consistently have those conversations: “Wow, you had a really good month—now let’s pick someone in the world who really needs this.” And then he’s excited.
He’s excited not for the fame of being famous. He’s excited because the more he does, the more he can help.
And by the way, that’s just who Max is. Max wakes up and makes my coffee. He gets up and does the dishes. He just wants to make people happy. That’s not me—that’s all him.
SPARK Top 10 Questions: Max Alexander
- What inspires you?
The environment around me. I like the beach. I like fields. - What is most meaningful about what you do?
It’s sustainable. I’m saving the planet. - How do materials influence design?
It depends on the fabric’s identity—how it flows, moves, “poofs.” (He calls it the “floof test.”) - Who do you design for?
Usually women, but I want to design for everyone. - Do you have a favorite design?
All of them. I cherish them. - What’s it like working with Fern Mallis?
It’s super, super fun. - What’s your process?
Think, drape, sew, voilà. From overnight to three months. - How should someone feel wearing your designs?
Joy. - Your fashion dream?
Doing something with a big brand. Apple. - What sparks you?
Shopping!
Max Alexander’s Paris Fashion Week runway show takes place March 3 at the Palais Garnier.
More information: maxalexander.shop
Instagram: @couture.to.the.max
TikTok: @couture.to.the.max
