W
hile Austin has always enjoyed a reputation for cultivating its own style, it would be a stretch to call the city home to a serious fashion industry. But according to those in the know, that’s about to change. As happened with music, film, and technology, Austin’s creative culture is charting a new path, and the fashion sphere is witnessing some game-changing moves. We sat down for a chat with two people in the midst of it all. Alta Alexander, the founder of Altatudes, Austin’s first African-American-owned upscale boutique, displays both the energy and enthusiasm entrepreneurs are known for. Living in Austin for most of her life, Alexander, a graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, started in retail, then spent much of her early career in public relations and state government. In September 2017, she realized a life-long dream of owning her own boutique, where she curates a collection of high-end clothing and luxury goods offered with personalized service. Nearly two years ago, Nina Means moved to Austin from New York City, and in February she was named the director of Austin Community College’s Fashion Incubator. Means, whose foray into design came a"er she had already received a master’s degree in public health, took a leap of faith and followed her heart to Italy and New York to study fashion. She went on to found her eponymous label, designing elegantly minimal women’s clothing. Means finds Austin a fresh contrast to the way the fashion business operates on the East and West coasts.
66 APRIL 2018 |
tribeza.com
RIGHT: Nina Means
and Alta Alexander in conversation at Flower Child’s Domain NORTHSIDE location.
WHAT ABOUT AUSTIN MAKES IT THE RIGHT PLACE TO BECOME THE COUNTRY’S NEXT FASHION INDUSTRY HUB? ALTA ALEXANDER: Austin is unique, and it’s
coming into its own in a fashion sense. Style has always been part of Austin, but not like it is now; the city’s stepping up and putting itself out there, making fashion important. We do everything in our own way here, and that’s a good thing — it’s authentic. And people gravitate to that. NINA MEANS: I think Austin is poised to do things differently in the fashion business. Houston and Dallas have tended to follow more of a traditional mold, but in Austin, everything is done true to the city’s personality. I like the stubbornness in that; it’s nice to see how sure we are about doing things in a way that fits Austin’s culture. Plus, there are so many designers here, more than most people realize. There’s a real opportunity to cultivate connections and community and build our own fashion ecoculture in an Austin way. New York kind of forces you into a certain mold — how many hours you work, how intense the interactions are. Here, it’s more collaborative. There’s a supportive and nurturing spirit. HOW HAVE YOU SEEN AUSTIN’S SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT MANIFEST ITSELF? AA: I believe women are feeling more empowered
to do our own thing, and when others see it, they surround and support you. NM: That’s so true. I feel like when you’re where you’re supposed to be, you get enveloped in that space. In Austin, I quickly found a community that was very supportive of what I was doing. AA: Nina is a natural connector, and I’m someone who loves bringing people together. She connected me with Black Women Design, which is