What separates art and fashion?

Alexandra Marie has been trying to tackle this question for her entire career in the fashion industry. On Monday, October 27, Marie showcased her creations as a fashion designer as part of the Palazzi Community Center’s “Made in Florence” series. Marie, a former Florence University of the Arts (FUA) student, now runs AMz by Alexandra Marie– A brand that creates unique articles of clothing in collaboration with and inspired by artists.

“I always felt like there wasn't a huge difference between fashion and art,” Marie said. “ I always felt like fashion is a discipline of art. And I was always really fascinated by the idea of combining them.”

During her presentation, Marie emphasized the positive impact the Fashion Loves You (FLY) program, which provides FUA students with hands-on experience in the fashion industry, had on her career. She credited her experience in the program with the positive trajectory of her career, helping to lay the foundations of what AMz would become. 

“After I studied here, I went home with the foundations of the patterns that I still use today,” Marie said. “As soon as I got home, I had already had the idea to launch a brand and the name of it and everything.”

Marie highlighted specific pieces she’s produced during her presentation, noting how her designs also integrate narrative elements into each garment. Specifically emphasizing one piece created in collaboration with artist Alexa Snyder where Marie transformed one of the artist's paintings into a unique one of one dress. 

“We did this event in an art gallery in Florida together with our reflections of our work together, and then we exchanged pieces, so I gave her an outfit, and she gave me a painting,” Marie said. “That way, she could wear my work, and I hung her painting in my studio, and then she opened an art gallery in California, and I had asked her to paint on a piece of silk that I would then interpret into a zero waste dress.”

For Alexandra Marie the intersection of fashion and artwork provides the baseline for her brand’s identity. More events like this one will take place during the Made in Florence series which will resume on December 1.