Alumni Spotlight

Inclusive Elegance

For designer Sasha Walton ’13, fashion is about embracing beauty, inclusivity and empowerment

From an early age, Sasha Walton ’13 knew that she wanted to make her mark in fashion. As a teenager, Walton hoped to model but experienced frustration at the lack of opportunities for plus-sized women. But where others may have seen only obstacles, this enterprising designer saw opportunity.

“As a teenager I wanted to look good but didn’t have lots of clothing options,” she shares. “I took inspiration from the runway and applied it to make designs that work on different body sizes. I wanted to have a positive influence and make clothes that look good on us plus sized women, instead of just the frumpy styles we often only have available.”

After teaching herself to sew and construct her own garments, Walton discovered and applied to the fashion program at Mount Mary. The program turned out to be a launchpad for a future fashion career, exposing her to invaluable information and opening doors to new possibilities.

Walton took every chance to perfect her craft as a student. She became proficient at sewing, but also learned the importance of patience and perseverance. Determined to carve out a niche in an underrepresented area of fashion, Walton first modeled her designs in the student fashion show during her sophomore year. 

The ambitious fashionista describes a study abroad trip to Paris – considered by many the fashion capital of the world – as one of the most influential and game changing experiences in her academic career. 

“It was my first time away from home and I loved it. I learned something new every day,” says Walton, who took classes at the Paris American Academy during her trip. There, she studied techniques in beading, embroidery and feather embellishments that continued to influence her work a decade later. 

Since graduating, Walton has shown designs on runways around the world. Her Goddesses of Power collection was featured in London’s African Fashion Week, and her work has appeared on runways from the Midwest to Milan. While the designer draws inspiration from sources ranging from 1950s Hollywood glamour to multicultural patterns and color palettes, she cites her grandmother as the primary influence in both life and work. “She raised me to be a strong woman and taught me that we can be resilient and own our power by embracing our femininity,” reflects Walton.

The designer recently worked with the online fashion retailer Shein to develop a mass-produced line of clothing, opening the door to affordable and accessible fashions for women. She describes the learning curve of working with a large company as challenging, but also educational and rewarding. 

“Going through the mass production process was definitely a new experience,” she says, adding that it equipped her with technical knowledge and a new understanding of the industry. 

Walton continues to create boutique pieces through her line, House of Solana. The one-of-a-kind pieces include both evening and everyday wear, bringing glamour within the reach of local fashionistas. Select pieces from several of her original collections were also included in the designer’s runway show held this February on the Mount Mary campus. 

For Walton, fashion design is about having fun and embracing a spirit of celebration. She believes in shattering the confining industry standards and redefining beauty as open and inclusive. 

“I want women to feel beautiful in clothes that are flattering within a range of ages and body shapes; to remember their own sense of self-worth,” she says.

When asked what advice she would offer to students aspiring to break into the fashion industry, Walton reflects on the importance of lessons learned both in and outside the classroom. 

“Learn from your mistakes, incorporate everything you’re taught in school. And most of all, never lose sight of who you truly are.”

Listen to an interview with Sasha Walton at mtmary.edu/podcast.