MAXimum Impact

Inside the Rise of Fashion’s Youngest Breakout Designer

Max Alexander told his parents he was a dressmaker at age four. At seven, he broke a Guinness World Record. At ten, he became the youngest designer ever to debut at Paris Fashion Week, showing at the iconic Palais Garnier.

Lindsay Jay wearing Max Alexander at Palais Garnier.

By now, many have heard of the boy barely tall enough to reach a cutting table yet bold enough to turn the fashion world on its heels.

At just ten, Max Alexander isn’t playing dress‑up – he’s drafting patterns, sculpting silhouettes, and constructing garments with the instinct and precision of someone decades deeper into the craft. His studio is a whirl of fabric, sketches, and ambition, where childhood imagination meets couture‑level discipline. What he’s creating isn’t just clothing; it’s a glimpse of a future designer whose vision arrived early and fully formed, leaving an imprint far larger than his years.

Max didn’t come from a family of fashion designers, but he grew up in a home where creativity was encouraged.  Surrounded by art supplies and room to explore, he gravitated toward making things long before he understood what fashion design was.  While other kids were stacking blocks, Max was shaping scraps and tape into early versions of garments.  What looked like play quickly revealed itself as something more intentional – a fascination with how clothing  is built and how ideas become real.

His parents recognized the spark and gave him the tools to follow it, but the drive was entirely his.

He showed 15 dresses at Paris Fashion Week on March 3, with 90% of the collection made from biodegradable, recyclable, or dead stock materials – leftover fabric companies would normally discard. His newest bag sold out in 24 hours. He has nearly six million Instagram followers.

The daughter of a friend here in Palm Springs happens to be Max’s muse. Gorgeous Lindsay Jay closed the show in Paris wearing a corset that took Max more than ten hours to construct, crafted from an upcycled French luxury-brand duster bag. The skirt was made from a vintage French military parachute he’d saved for just the right moment. Lindsay’s mother, Lynn, told me the two share an incredible bond. Sensing their similar spirits, she introduced them three years ago, when Max was only seven.

I asked Lynn how she first met Max. She had interviewed him on her radio show, The Coach Lynn Show – a program syndicated in more than 100 countries, with podcast versions on iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Deezer, and all major streaming platforms. “He reminded me so much of my own kids,” she said. “I mentioned that my daughter was a model in L.A., and they invited her to a photo shoot. As they say, the rest is history.”

Photos of Lindsay wearing this dress have been used in Vogue (in 3 countries) Cosmopolitan, Allure, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and many more.

Max has designed for Sharon Stone, spoken at the United Nations about fashion waste, and shown collections in New York, Denver, and Aspen.

Fern Mallis, the creator of New York Fashion Week, sat front row in Paris. “He’s one of a kind. I think anything is possible.”

Max is a fourth grader from Los Angeles who plays pickleball and piano. He dabbles in Robotics. His dream: becoming a couturier in Paris. His dream became a reality earlier than most people can figure out what they want to dream about becoming.

So dream on – and dream bigger. Max Alexander is proof that sometimes the future arrives early.

The Ultimate Ballet Flat

Foldable, Flexible, and Fashionable

My mom used to have these amazing pairs of fold-up ballet slippers. I remember borrowing them on occasion because they fit into a purse – and because I never wore flats, they came in handy to be slipped on after taking off my heels at the end of a long night of dancing.

They were also really cute and came in a few colors including gold and silver. The only down side was that they were not very well made and you couldn’t count on walking in them for long.

I often wondered what became of them as I became more sensible with shoes. They probably fell apart.  But I do remember how convenient and comfortable they were and I’ve never come across anything like it again. 

Until recently when I discovered a website for a company that makes ballet flats called Tieks.

First off, I couldn’t believe how many styles and colors they have – over 70 Prints, Patents, Classics, and more. It made it hard to choose only one pair to find out if all the hype on their website was real.

What sold me is that Tieks are considered the most versatile flats in the world.  Made of the finest Italian leathers that are foldable and wearable all day, every day. Excellent for traveling. I’m definitely taking them on my next trip as they take up virtually no extra space in a suitcase or carry-on bag. They go with everything from jeans to dresses and even office wear.

The company was founded in 2008 by Kfir Gavrieli in Los Angeles, now based in Beverly Hills.  The manufacturing process of every single pair involves three days of a highly detailed process with over 150 steps, resulting in a flat with unparalleled comfort, flexibility, durability and style.  They feature a unique split‑sole and flexible midsole that molds to your foot and moves with you as you walk.

The shoes start at $210 for adults. While they’re an investment, buyers find them worth it because of their durability, versatility, and long‑term comfort.  The reviews I’ve read are excellent.

The packaging is amazing.

I noticed that the back is cushioned rather than elasticized to ensure they’re not too tight on the heel. The advanced foam cushioning makes it comfortable for long-term wear.  They have a thick non-skid rubber outsole to provide traction and shock absorption. 

Another thing that sets them apart is the hand-stitched turquoise‑blue stripe running up the heel and the matching blue rubber patches on the sole. It’s similar to the iconic Prada red line (especially on the America’s Cup sneakers and some accessories). These color accents act like a visual logo that you can spot from across a room. Gives them an extra oomph.

The box with the flower is so pretty.

Overall, ballet flats are a timeless wardrobe staple, rather than a fleeting fashion moment. I don’t expect that they’ll ever go out of style.

The last thing I want to mention about the company is that they have a foundation dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs around the world.

The women they support come from all kinds of backgrounds and industries, and the website even shows photos and stories of each one – where they’re from, what they do, and how their businesses are growing.

Tieks partners with a non-profit micro‑lending platform called Kiva to fund these entrepreneurs. Kiva allows everyday people to lend small amounts of money to women who don’t have access to traditional banking. Loans can be as little as $25, and when they’re repaid, the money can be lent again. It’s not charity – it’s zero‑interest lending that helps women build businesses, pay school fees, buy equipment, or stabilize their households.

Since its inception, The Gavrieli Foundation has become the single largest lender on Kiva worldwide, contributing over $10,000,000 to more than 55,000 women in over 70 countries, including the U.S.

Knowing that Tieks supports women entrepreneurs around the world made me love the brand even more. It’s rare to find a company that not only makes a great product but also invests in helping women build their futures.

I chose these which I’m wearing in Palm Springs and taking back to Vancouver.

Click here for the little flat that fits everywhere and goes with everything:

March Musings…

It was too darn hot! Here in Palm Springs we don’t have to worry about shovelling snow, but when the weather creeps above 95 degrees, it’s just too hot to think straight. There were several days in a row of sitting in air‑conditioned rooms. It’s just starting to cool down before it begins to creep up again in the next week or so. Then it’s time to get ready to leave. Overall, I cannot complain, but there are only so many clothes you can take off – and then what?

As usual, the time escapes me too. It’s always like that when it gets close to departure, but for some reason this season seems to have gone by especially fast.

This season was more about enjoying the small moments. There were a few big ones, of course, but overall I felt no pull to chase after anything or insert myself into any circle. By giving things room to unfold on their own, I’ve started to understand what actually feels right for me. Stepping back and letting life move at its own pace has shown me what truly fits. It’s interesting to look at things from the outside in. So far, this is working for me.

I’ve had some really lovely chance encounters this season.  A few may grow into lifelong friendships, and a few will fade out naturally – and that’s perfectly okay.  I don’t want to force any relationship, whether friendship or something else.  I’ve seen less of some people I used to see all the tiime, and more of the ones I’m just beginning to know and slowly growing to appreciate and enjoy.

Chance encounter of the furry kind.

I look forward to a monthly forecast from a website I follow called The Power Path.  Every month they share a new word that sets the intention for the month.  The theme for March is Upgrade.  That feels perfect, because I sense I’m getting a personal upgrade too.

In order to upgrade anything, you must first release what you’re upgrading. If it’s a piece of furniture or an appliance, you move the old energy out of your life to make room for the new. The same is true for inner upgrades – your thoughts, emotions, attitudes, self‑esteem, personal power, and confidence.

You can only upgrade if you unstick yourself from where you are stuck. 

An excerpt (link to full article below): The most important is the upgrade of your thoughts, emotions and beliefs. This may require further release and completions of old patterns, cycles and behaviours. If you are not proactive in doing so, spirit will do it for you by bringing in something unexpected that forces you to make a necessary change.

I believe moving forward is the only way to better yourself. I’ve experienced the unexpected – good and bad -that pushed me in uncomfortable directions. But I’ve also learned that the discomfort at first almost always becomes growth in the end.

Speaking of growth, as March unfolds I’m looking forward to longer light (especially since I just found out that British Columbia is moving to permanent Daylight Saving Time – Yay), fresh energy and the first Spring flowers with the gentle reminder that things bloom in their own time.

I’m ready to see what blossoms next.  How about you – What are you looking forward to this Spring?

March, 2026 Monthly Forecast

Header image: d. king