BY SOFIA LUCIANO SANTIAGO
Appagel, a fashion house from New Orleans, Louisiana centers sometimes sexy, sometimes chic, hard, and timelessness as the driving force behind their designs. Created by stylist and designer Alendria Page, she is inspired by visualizing her family's and her own future, imagining the possibilities that lie ahead through her designs.
Commanding, elegant, and forward, Page began her career as a stylist in 2015, but quickly realized as she was crafting unique looks as a stylist she saw herself wanting to create more with her unique vision. A vision that would later become the inspiration behind her brand, Appagel.
“I would describe myself as very childish. Still focused. I feel like right now I'm 29 years old, however, I still feel like 20 was like, five days ago. As I grow, I feel like my business is growing. My inspiration really comes from the future. Like where I see myself in 20 years, or how I see my younger niece or my younger daughter dressing. So when I make clothes or when I'm working on a collection, I always think about the future. What can I imprint, right now that will be a statement piece in the future or you know, something that is timeless, ” said Page.
Page said she was always destined to be a fashion designer. Inspired and encouraged by the people and women in her family, Page would steal her aunt’s church clothes and upcycle them from a young age. She was also encouraged by her best friend's brother, who is a designer himself, to create pieces for herself and other people within her family.
“I never thought I was going to actually make clothes. But I knew I was going to be in the world of fashion. As a baby, my mom always told me a story about how I had this cute outfit on and I went inside and put on some heels, my mama's shirt, cut it and tied it up. So doing this, I feel like it has always been installed in me to just want to branch out into fashion,” said Page.
Page’s designs are inspired by the future in both conception and design, angular cuts and a fresh look on the 3 color rule as a basis for her color palettes are a main aspect of her garments.
Appagel’s first collection Virtual Reality explored the designer’s view of reality during that time, and how the rise of technology made it look visually in Page’s imagination.
“Virtual reality was me coming around the pandemic. And I felt like the world around me was just felt like a video game. I saw this fabric and it spoke to me so when I made Virtual Reality I was basically just in my own world within clothes. I just knew what I felt and what I wanted to make. Virtual reality basically emerged from the world around me,” said Page.
The collection leads with a black and yellow snake print theme, showcasing mini dresses, rompers, two piece sets, and other pieces.
“I'm all about sleek, straightforward, and then there's a pop,” said Page.
Virtual Reality was the start of Appagel, the designer created their second collection debuted at the Material Institute, a non profit arts center offering artistic resources for New Orleans artists. This collection featured natural dyed garments exploring sensual yet classic silhouettes.
“I like to find a balance in everything. Everything doesn't have to be sexy. But with Appagel I like to find that balance,” said Page.
The collection showcased during The Elites fashion show was inspired by Greek mythology, the long gowns and extended drapes played a key role as inspiration for this collection. The designer said she wanted to capture that feminine nature, while encompassing current aesthetics surrounding the hard and soft life, which gave the collection its more playful and masculine flair.
“The inspiration was just New Orleans, New Orleans, the future of New Orleans, and where I want to be. Besides the collection, just the actual fashion show, I wanted to support. I wanted New Orleans people to support New Orleans people, and I really want to intensify the world of New Orleans in the fashion world,” said Page.
The designer said she is mainly inspired by her family and community, but designers like Alexander McQueen and Schiaparelli inspire that unique, world stopping feeling she looks to evoke with her own designs.
“ I can explain the feeling I get. It's basically like, your heart just kind of dropped. Like that. It's a warm feeling. I pick and choose who I study, a lot of people wasn't for us back then. So I can't really grasp the concept of studying their work when I was I couldn't even be in their garments, you know, so I really get my inspiration from just a couple of clients. It's wearable art,” said Page.
As for the future, the Appagel designer and creative director seeks to open her own house and a boutique with different designers in the next 10 years.
“I want to direct my future, I want to control my own destiny,” said Page.
Appagel will be showcasing their most recent collection at the annual Acadiana Fashion week in July.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOFIA LUCIANO SANTIAGO
CREATIVE DIRECTION BY LAURYN HINTON
STYLING BY PERFECT STATEMENT
MAKEUP BY NAOMI BLAUSAPP
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