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A lejandra
A lonso Rojas
Though the Madrid-born designer Alejandra Alonso Rojas, 34,
is a fourth-generation hand-knitter, her label also offers everything
from elegant satin slip dresses to woven woolen trousers. Alonso
Rojas, now based in New York, says she hopes to instill “Spanish
tradition and sophistication influenced by my modern life.” Part of
that contemporary sensibility: a commitment to sustainability.
“Our development- and-production process,” she says, “makes for
inherently slow fashion.” Alejandra Alonso Rojas sweater and skirt.
Scosha earrings. Lou Dallas x Aurelia Cotton rings.
“kids’ table” and made a point never to isolate my brother
and me because of age. If they had friends over, we were
always included—we were expected to make conversation
with whomever we were sitting next to, no matter how
old they were, and I think that played a huge role in grow-
ing my confidence.
This fall marked my fifth fashion season. Among other
things, modeling has given my mom and me something
new to bond over. I didn’t really know what questions to
ask her until I found myself immersed in this world that
she knows so much about. (This has also led to some funny
moments: In the beginning, when I’d complain to her about
this or that, she would simply say, “I’ve been doing this a
long time—that’s just not going to work here.”)
As much insight as my mom could give me, there are
some things I simply had to experience on my own. The
industry is very different today—for one thing, social media
transformed how models interact with the world. We now
have outlets to share our own voices—and to support
others who are doing the same.
Social media also changed the way the world perceives
models. We used to see them as a kind of fantasy that was
a bit removed from the real world. And while that magic is
dimmed a little now, I believe it’s for the better. I think it’s
cool that we get to see everyone looking like themselves—for
a young girl to realize, Okay, they don’t always look like that.
It will be interesting to see how all of this affects the
longevity of modeling careers—I think my generation
may be the guinea pigs in this respect as we discover what
that broken barrier between fantasy and real life will ulti-
mately mean. The most important thing to me, however,
is education—whether that includes college or not. I grad-
uated early from high school, with all the credits needed
to someday attend college; in the meantime, though, I’m
learning more—both in front of the camera and away from
it—than I ever thought possible.
If my mom is any example, that career longevity seems
to be increasing: She’s just as involved in the industry now
as she was in the ’90s. It has been surreal to see iconic cultural
moments and figures from that decade—voguing, RuPaul—
come full circle. It’s something that really hit home when I
walked in Versace’s spring 2018 show just before Donatella
staged a surprise supermodel reunion. For the finale, she
brought out my mom, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer,
Helena Christensen, and Carla CONTINUED ON PAGE 162
