Asta Razma, Custom Art Fashion Designer
Chicago native Asta Razma’s COLLECTION ALPHA (Spring/Summer 2022) was the designers first foray into the world of fashion runways who wowed audiences with her spectacular iconoclastic designs, inspired by the fusion of street style art, pop culture, and global symbolism. The premier catwalk collection for the designer showcased the energy of spray-paint art, chains, and barbed wire fits on pret a porter collection of coats, jackets, corsets, and boots.
In February, we covered her New York Fashion Week event. We were able to catch up with her during her busy schedule to ask her a few questions her past and plans for the future.
When did you find your passion for fashion?
- My mother was a seamstress so I grew up surrounded by fashion, patterns, and sewing machines!
Did you work in the industry prior to creating your own brand?
- No! I went to school and got licensed as a pharmacist in the states of Illinois + California, but always loved creating all forms of art. Being a pet artist as a hobby let me to meet industry people who changed my life as an art fashion artist.
COLLECTION ALPHA was your debut catwalk affair for Spring/Summer 2022, an amalgamation of “street style art, pop culture, and global symbolism”. What was it that inspired this concept?
- I have always loved street art, graffiti, pop artists such as Warhol, musicians; David Bowie, and original creators that were not cookie cutter!
The pandemic was influential in my use of chains & barbed wire. The virus literally shut the entire world down. Nobody was exempt from its wrath, and thus as a medical person and artist, I used these elements symbolically in my fashion.
Being your first runway show, it must have been euphoric. What did you do afterward that night? Did you party or dance in the streets of New York?
- It was beyond euphoric!!! I ended up going to my friend's house and a small group of us celebrated with a few bottles of champagne!!
What was it like having Paris Hilton wearing your gloves?
- It gave me new meaning to Paris’ coined phrase SLIVING!! I’m still on Cloud 9 knowing that a fashion ICON and female entrepreneur chose my gloves for a Quay sunglasses campaign and MTV award show (which she won for Best Reality Return!). It is deliciously surreal to this day.
In what direction will your new collection take at upcoming fashion shows?
- Well, I could tell you but then ….you know. It’s top secret!