Seven-year-old Max Alexander or “Couture to the Max” is a design prodigy who has been designing since he was four years old. He is also making his Denver Fashion Week (DFW) runway debut on Saturday, November 18.
Purchase your DFW Couture tickets here.
What can guests expect from a seven year old Couture designer?
Rainbow sequins and tulle.
He said that he knew he was a designer when he was at dinner with his family and announced that he needed a mannequin.
“I said it once,” Alexander said. “I’m a dress designer.” 
His mother, Sherri Madison is an artist who works with reused cardboard and made him his first mannequin. With no design experience, he began designing intricate looks that focused on vibrant and layered fabrics — it wasn’t until 2022 that he began sewing classes. Alexander said that some pieces take him a few weeks or a month to make.
When asked what inspires his looks he said, “It just comes to me in a millisecond.”
One look was made out of his favorite treat — candy. Another is a Victorian-esque cheetah gown worn by RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant Shangela. When asked where the name Couture to the Max comes from, Madison said that he’s Coutureé at heart so there wasn’t much thought that went into it.
“I thought “To the Max” but then I sort of thought Max is not interested in casual wear, it was definitely Couture,” Madison said.
In three years, he has made custom looks for celebrities around the world and has also been nominated for a streamy. Though he often gravitates towards making dresses, he’s learning how to create suits. With that being said, for the third time ever, he designed his Streamy Awards suit and a dress for his mother.
Most recently, he was invited to New York Fashion Week by designers Christian Siriano and Pamella Roland and will be making his DFW runway debut. His designs also caught the attention of major TV outlets like Good Morning America, Access and Tamron Hall where he presented three dresses that he will be bringing to Denver.
“I want the dresses to be fun and I want everyone to feel beautiful,” Alexander said.
Needless to say, at such a young age Alexander has accomplished a lot. His passion for creating dresses out of unique materials like coffee bags and bubble wrap has rightfully grabbed the attention of millions of Instagram followers — 1.3 million to be exact.
Photo courtesy of Sherri Madison