Arissa Acosta

Designer: Arissa Acosta

Hometown: KL, Malaysia

Email: arissa.acosta@gmail.com

Collection Title: Salam Siam

Bio

Ever since she was a kid, Arissa has loved anything related to fashion, especially shows and movies where the main characters had a bold and distinctive sense of style. She was so inspired that she carried around a binder full of sketch paper to draw every idea that came to mind. Her parents encouraged her creativity with guided sketchbooks as gifts, and her grandmother taught her the basics of hand sewing and ironing. When she finally got her first sewing machine, she dove right in and started teaching herself how to sew.

Her interest in fashion faded a bit during high school after moving to the U.S., as she had to adjust to a new environment and focus on building new connections and friendships. But that spark came back unexpectedly during a tour of NC State, where she originally went to learn about the architecture program. During the visit, she discovered the Wilson College of Textiles and realized she still wanted to follow a creative path. She even separated from her group mid-tour to learn more about the textile programs instead.

Now studying Fashion and Textile Management with a concentration in Fashion Development and Product Management, Arissa has explored both garment construction and design. While studying abroad, she also experimented with accessory design, which helped her expand her creative perspective.

Looking ahead, Arissa hopes to continue pursuing a creative career in fashion. She does not feel tied to one specific category and wants to take her time exploring different areas of the industry while learning as much as she can along the way.

Collection Concept

Salam Siam pays homage to cultural roots through combining traditional Malay and Thai fabrics & silhouettes with modern, tailored designs to create stylish and professional outfits for women today. Perfect for career-driven women with these same cultural ties, it lets them stay connected to their roots while feeling confident and polished at work. Each piece celebrates heritage with a fresh, contemporary twist, making it easy to express your ambition and cultural pride. Designed for the modern woman who values authenticity, luxury, and sustainability, this collection is made to last—both in style and meaning.

Majority of the more novel fabrics used are thai silk fabrics sourced from fabric markets in Thailand, accompanied by poly twill fabrics and poly satin or batik rayon linings. Pre-existing patterns were altered to align with the artistic vision and to better suit the model’s measurements. Techniques like pleating, embroidery and hand-stitching is seen throughout the collection, some looks utilizing more than others.