10-Year-Old Fashion Prodigy Max Alexander Launches Mood Fabrics Line — and Breaks Two Guinness World Records

SPARK was there as the young designer unveiled his first fabric collection at Mood Fabrics’ New York flagship, with Fern Mallis among those cheering him on as he added two more Guinness World Records titles to his growing résumé

At 10 years old, Max Alexander already has Paris Fashion Week, celebrity clients and multiple Guinness World Records to his name. Now he can add textile designer — and two more world records — to the list.

SPARK was on the scene as Alexander took over Mood Fabrics in New York’s Garment District on Sept. 14 to celebrate the launch of his first fabric collection, created in collaboration with the famed fabric house.

Surrounded by bolts of his new textiles, Alexander introduced the collection to a crowd that included his self-described “fashion fairy godmother,” Fern Mallis, documentary and Broadway producer Dori Berinstein, his parents, friends, family and members of his team. Guests mingled over bites from Philippe Chow Fifth Avenue, another recent Alexander collaborator.

And because this is Max Alexander, a fabric launch wasn’t quite enough.

The young designer also took on a live Guinness World Records challenge: the fastest time to thread an automatic sewing machine. With an official adjudicator watching and the crowd gathered around him, Alexander completed the task in 10.16 seconds, setting the record and sending the room into an ecstatic celebration.

The feat came as Alexander also became the youngest person to release a fabric/textile line, at 10 years and 196 days old. The two achievements bring his collection of Guinness World Records titles to four.

His latest collaboration, Mood x Max, brings Alexander’s exuberant design sensibility to fabric by the yard. The collection includes animal prints, richly textured fabrics and fluid materials, with sustainability built into the concept through natural and recycled fibers. Mood says Alexander selected the grounds himself, including BCI cotton, recycled polyester faux fur, Ecovero viscose rayon challis and European Flax linen.

For Alexander, Mood has long been more than a fabric store. He has shopped at its New York and Los Angeles locations for years and has recalled his first visit to the New York store as being “better than Disneyland.”

The partnership is the latest step in an unusually fast-moving year for Alexander. He began designing at age 4 and went on to become the youngest person to design a runway show. Earlier this year, he presented a sustainable collection at Paris Fashion Week at the Palais Garnier.

This summer, he also moved beyond fashion with another New York collaboration: The Max Alexander™, a signature zero-proof drink created with Philippe Chow Fifth Avenue, blending fresh lime, agave and muddled blueberries with a blue spirulina sea-salt rim.

Now, with Mood x Max, Alexander has moved into textiles — putting his own designs into the hands of other designers and makers.

Mallis, who has championed Alexander and whom he calls his “fashion fairy godmother,” was in the crowd at Mood as another chapter unfolded — this time not on a runway, but among the fabrics where his designs begin.

SPARK has followed Alexander’s remarkable rise through the fashion world, from his runway collections to the growing recognition of a young designer whose imagination — and ambition — continue to expand.

And when the official Guinness medal was placed around his neck after his record-setting sewing-machine attempt, Alexander offered perhaps the most 10-year-old reaction of the afternoon:

“This is awesome, because I can wear this to school!”

IG: @couturetothemax

For more info about Max Alexander’s new fabric line, visit this page at Mood Fabrics.

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .