Maylan Maxwell
Hometown: Shelby, NC
Email: mmmaxwel@ncsu.edu & maylanmaxwell@gmail.com
Bio
Maylan Maxwell is a senior at NC State University studying Fashion and Textile Management, with a concentration in Fashion Development and Product Management and minors in Business Administration and Global Leadership. Maylan adores fashion and sewing, and she can’t believe her lifelong hobby is becoming her career. She plans to work in buying, product development, or merchandising after she graduates in Spring 2027. Maylan is especially interested in historical fashion and exploring fashion’s cyclical, turbulent nature as a social, cultural, and artistic touchstone. When she’s not sewing in the senior design studio, you can find her reading, baking, traveling, or hanging out outside.
@madebymaylan on Instagram.
Collection Concept
La Robe à Transformation is a contemporary interpretation of the namesake 19th century French style of dress. Ladies in the mid-1800s would purchase one gown that could transform occasions by changing its detachable bodice and adjustable hemline, thereby extending the useful life, economy, and fashion of the garment. This collection explores that idea in a modern context, where gowns are often bought, worn once, and discarded, contributing to millions of tons of textile waste. Garments have become single use. The Robe à Transformation is not.
Each piece in this collection has been engineered so that a simple, reversible change can transform it into a different look. Also inspired by the theatrical “quick change,” each piece will be transformed during the runway show to showcase its versatility. These gowns pay homage to 18th and 19th century silhouettes, brought to life by techniques such as draping, corsetry, hand beading, embroidery, and hand finishing. Maylan hopes that the collection will inspire viewers to think creatively about the exciting intersection between fashion, function, and sustainability.