8Qs | Alexandra Sipa

Fashion : Meet

29 March 2021

With pineapple leather and rose petal silk being just a few of the weird and wonderful sustainable materials the fashion industry has been using, their rather surprising composition proves that almost anything can be made into a new textile. Pioneering this mindset to the next level is Central Saint Martins graduate and new brand on the block, Alexandra Sipa, whose debut collection is mainly made with woven electrical wires.

"I was originally trained as a painter, so creating colourful lace pieces is a natural transition," shares the Romanian designer, who now calls London her home. "I just swapped the brush strokes for colourful wires. It offers so much freedom. I am free to try anything and make as many mistakes as I want, because I will always be able to easily undo something. With sewing garments, mistakes more often than not end up ruining the fabric which creates unnecessary waste." Only creating sustainably is of high priority for Sipa. As she launched the brand last year with her business partner Lucas Baker, she has full control of the collection's production and material choices. "When I develop an idea, making it sustainable is part of the development. For example, I wanted to produce my lycra pieces sustainably; therefore, I found a company that prints on stretch fabric made out of recycled plastic bottles. Little by little, I am figuring things out."

Her Autumn/Winter 2021 collection 'Sour Floral', features a mix camo-printed lycra, lace patchwork denim and her notorious wire creations in ironically regular garment styles. Learn more about what goes on in the designer's head with our 8Qs.

What is a book that you always come back to and why?
Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything. I read it in my second year at CSM for the first time, and it was my introduction to the roots of the climate change crisis. It was eye opening, and it influenced me to change the way I design.

What is your morning ritual like?
I have always been a morning person, so it’s my favourite time of day. Lucas and I live next to a park, so we have coffee there and walk around then have breakfast at home.

What is the best piece of advice you've received?
Get a therapist.

What is an ongoing goal of yours?
To have a healthy relationship with work. Most of the time it overtakes my personal life, so I am trying find time to be detached from it.

What's your party trick?
Romanian Karaoke.

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would it be?
To Romania. I miss my family! And to the US. Before graduating last year, Lucas and I were planning a road trip there; I still really want to do that when it will be possible again.

Name something that you're grateful for.
Lucas. He is my boyfriend and business partner. He believes in me so much and has been supporting me since day 1. I couldn’t have this business without him.

Name three things that you can't live without.
Sugar, Freddy jeans, and Nivea hydrating cream.