Samantha R. Crossland Information

Alternative and Lolita Fashion Designer
Blasphemina's Closet
Minneapolis, MN, USA

Biography:
Samantha R. Crossland is heavily influence by historical fashion, fairytales and Japanese youth fashion. Debuting her label Blasphemina's Closet in 2000, she makes one-of-a-kind pieces, custom projects, wedding gowns and high-end items. She has started a fashion style called "Luxette" with fellow designer Megan Maude.

Samantha Rei draws her inspiration from such illustrators and Chris Riddell, Brom, Tony DiTerlizzi, Brett Helquist and Mihara Mitsukazu as well as stories like Alice in Wonderland and Snow White. Her hero Alexander McQueen as well as designers Vivienne Westwood, H. Naoto, John Galliano, Colleen Atwood, and Victorian Maiden have influenced her style.

She has also been featured or shown in magazines such as Shojo Beat, Minnesota Women's Press, Five For Magazine, Pacific Rim Magazine, Runway, RX magazine, Vita.mn, City Pages, Ouch Magazine, Minnesota Public Radio, Gothic Beauty, Showcase Minnesota, Dark Beauty, Metro, the American Gothic and Lolita Bible and more.

Samantha has directed the Full Fashion Panic! (formerly Fresh Fruits Basket) fashion show at Schoolgirls and Mobilesuits/Mechademia since 2006.

In 1998, she began attending the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, Minnesota, choosing to focus on her skills as an illustrator and painter. After graduating in 1999, she spent a year at the College of Visual Arts (CoVA) in Saint Paul to major in illustration then continued her education at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for Apparel Technologies.

"I want people to feel what I feel when the girls wear these clothes. I want them to see how they own the look and become the person the dress was made for. I want the men to feel powerful and handsome. I want these men and women to be well-dressed warriors." - Samantha