Max Alexander was born in 2016 in Los Angeles, California to a Canadian father and American mother. He graduated from Little Dolphins by the Sea, an arts-based preschool, in 2021. During his time there, he was heavily influenced by the works of Vincent Van Gogh, Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo and Alexander Calder. Max announced to his family in 2020 that he was a dress maker. Encouraged by his mother, also an artist, Max began designing, draping and sewing, and launched his Couture to the Max label in 2021.
His first designs, prior to learning to sew, were comprised of ribbons, plastic wrap and scraps of material, fastened together with knots and tape. After learning to sew, his work quickly progressed into the more refined style you see today. One year later. at the age of 5, Max began formal sewing classes.
His first collection was completed in Summer 2021, and culminated with the overwhelming success of his first runway show in Los Angeles, California.
A look of tropical and jungle prints paired with couture embellishments wowed the live audience of over a hundred fans, despite taking place during a global pandemic. As seen in this debut show, Max's early aesthetic incorporated California culture from divergent sources, such as mentorship by the haute couture fashion house of Ryan Patros and Walter Mendez, support from Los Angeles based textile company, Fabric Selection, and frequent trips to the California Coast.
Though the ocean has formed an integral part of Max's work, with references to seaweed, waves, and refractive materials making a constant appearance, it is his ancestry that gives a glimpse in to the makings of such a young designer. Unbeknownst to Max, his great grandfather worked as a cloth cutter in Canada in the 1930s. His paternal grandfather also owned a dress business throughout the 70s and 80s, which included over 35 stores in Montreal. And his maternal grandmother and great grandmother were both talented sewists.
Since 2021, Max has created commissioned works for a global clientele including dresses for clients in France, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Canada and throughout the United States. He has designed commissions from celebrities such as Sharon Stone, Lola Andreoni and Bob's Dance Troupe. Max's couture has been featured on Good Morning America, in People Magazine, on Access Daily, as well as various national and international news outlets throughout the world. Max has a strong social media following of over two million dedicated fans including top designers such as Bob Mackie, Isaac Mizrahi, and Christian Siriano.
The aesthetic of the Couture to the Max brand has changed since its inception, but remains youthful and trend setting, highlighting the female form. In addition to dresses, his new work includes couture scarves, blankets, kimonos and jackets. Max's inspiration remains "making all women, of all sizes and shapes, feel beautiful."
Max currently resides in Southern California with his parents, younger brother and older sister. His interest in design, sewing and haute couture only seem to be growing as he grows. He is saving for his first apartment in New York and attends First Grade in his spare time. Max is represented by United Talent Agency.
