Max Alexander Is Bringing Youth To The Fashion World

Max Alexander, or Couture To The Max, is a fashion designer who first announced his career plans at the family dinner table. Still growing up in Los Angeles, Alexander is putting out impressive fashion projects all year round, while also attending elementary school. Alexander holds the Guinness World Record for ‘youngest person to design a runway show’, after his participation in Denver Fashion Week in 2023. 

Supportive parents are the cherry on top of Alexander’s passion and vision. His mother, Sherri Madison, is a visual artist while his father, Jack Kolodny, works in finance. The resources and artistic support that Alexander’s family provides are no doubt helping Alexander fully blossom into an artist who will join the many big names of the fashion industry.

Once Madison fully understood that Alexander was interested in clothes, she worked to make his dreams come true. Alexander has a full sewing studio, mannequins and multiple sewing machines and meets often with a sewing teacher. Using the complicated machines that have many small moving parts is something that requires patience and attention. At just eight years old Alexander has a deep understanding of many different sewing techniques and the way that sewing machines have changed fashion drastically.

“You can make everything too fast, too fast.” exclaimed Alexander, in reference to his newest sewing machine. With a recent appreciation for embroidery, Alexander has quite an eye for the small details and has developed impressive needlework techniques.

In the morning before going to school, Alexander is happy and even insistent on spending his extra time on one of his many sewing projects within his studio.

“He has to sew every day or he goes crazy,” explained Madison, Alexander’s mother.

Though Alexander is capable of making any and all types of garments, he has a particular love for textual and moveable pieces.

“Dresses and scarves are my favorite,” said Alexander.

Most of Alexander’s lines include a variety of dresses, each with remarkable body and unique materials. One memorable piece made this past year is a dress fully made out of candy, every eight-year-old’s dream come true.

Despite Alexander’s soaring imagination, most of the designs he showcases will likely look much more classic and elegant than you might expect. This well-traveled artist, with a true fashion eye, brings a very mature yet fun sense of style to each runway he graces.

“My two favorite colors are maroon and gold,” emphasized Alexander. “They just go really good together.”

Constantly on the move and buzzing with energy, Alexander is an undeniably passionate creator, quickly making quite the splash in the fashion world. Many established designers spend time with Alexander, offering their mentorship and exploring the modern fashion scene with him by their side. Amongst many big names is Fern Mallis, who served on the Council of Fashion Designers of America and created New York Fashion Week. Now Mallis is one of Alexander’s mentors and fans.

With extensive exposure to the fashion world at this point, Alexander’s designs continue to evolve at a rapid pace. His youthful mind and artistic sense are a unique culmination of his understanding of the fashion world and the open-minded perspective of an eight-year-old. One thing that the fashion world and beyond can agree on is that this combination is truly memorizing to watch. Giggling and skipping his way across the fashion world, artists just can’t get enough.

“Does the statue of David count as an animal?” Alexander asked when pondering what animal he would design clothes for. “Hmm, I would also say a giraffe.”

Bursting with excitement about the idea, Alexander and his mom fantasized about the possibilities of a giraffe photoshoot and lengthy scarves. The joy surrounding art and imagination shared between Alexander and his mother is clear and contagious.

“It’s amazing to watch him learn with each design,” said Madison. “He’s making another piece out of ties, but this one he opened up every tie, took out the insides, and ironed them flat so they’re three times the size, but lighter. He said the first dress was too heavy.”

While Alexander himself dresses like a fairly normal eight-year-old, he has access to designer items that most kids wouldn’t recognize. This journey he is on makes for a different childhood than many of his peers. His career endeavors have grown to the point that even his classmates and teachers desire his work.

Alongside his professional designs, Alexander often makes intricate things for his own family and friends. In preparation for the holidays, Alexander is working on some Christmas presents for his family that he was thrilled to share. Like any busy artist, Alexander’s studio is filled to the brim with projects and tools of all varieties.

With three shows already on the agenda for 2025 Alexander’s fashion career is going full steam ahead with no sign of stopping. Shows generally involve around ten designs, though Alexander most often gets a say in his contributions to events. Alexander showcased one of his first lines for Denver Fashion Week in 2023 and among his many shows of 2024 was an exciting career landmark, a show at New York Fashion Week. In addition to upcoming lines, Alexander is soon releasing a jewelry line that will be available for purchase online.

There is no telling what is in store for this young creative, but its clear he is embracing his true self.

“I want to be the male Barbie!” said Alexander. “I want to do all the things.”

Photography courtesy of Max Alexander.