Meet the male model getting creative in quarantine: Alioune Fall

As the world reels from the devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, at Models.com we want to highlight the innovative, resourceful and inspired ways in which the creative community is adapting to life in quarantine.

From his family home in New Jersey, model Alioune Fall utilized household items and modified vintage garments from his wardrobe to create a completely self-produced, self-styled and self-shot editorial. Read more about Alioune and his process below.

Photographed, styled and modeled by Alioune Badara Fall

Where are you from? What’s your background and how did you become involved in the fashion industry?
I was born in New York City, however, I was raised in Senegal until I was 18 years old. Considering my dual citizenship I am more grounded to my Senegalese culture and heritage.
Fashion came naturally to me. My father led me to my first casting at 2 years old. Also, my grandfather who was a tailor by profession and my mother a fashion lover; it would be difficult for me to put a time of involvement. I believe I am a true product of my environment.

Where are you currently spending your time in quarantine/self-isolation and who are you spending it with?
I am using this time to reconnect with my family at my home in New Jersey.

How have you been spending your time in quarantine?
This is a very unfortunate time we are all facing, however, my creative abilities excel in isolation. This has been a self resolutional time for me, my time is spent planning and reviewing ideas for execution during and after the pandemic. Such as my new Instagram live show “SEETU” and designing my own collection.

What has been your “guilty pleasure” during this time?
I would have to say being off from my full-time job. I’ve always wanted to work on these projects however time was limited.

What was your process in creating this editorial? What equipment, props, etc did you use?
The most important aspect of this editorial was being able to use the materials I had at home for the esthetic I had in mind. This was without a doubt challenging, but I was able to use items such as; my carpet, my sister’s wig holder, my bedsheets, tissues, wall decorations, etc. After considering matters, many elements that were first considered had no cohesiveness. With that being said, many elements were custom-made, such as the blazer, the black shirt, and the kitchen curtain. This was the first-hand experience on the project. So it was very challenging, I encountered many technical issues, such as hiding the Bluetooth remote from the camera. All these skills were self-taught–throughout this process, it was ideal to gain the experience from the act of doing it oneself.

You’ve taken on a lot of roles with this editorial. Do you think of yourself first and foremost as a model, a stylist, or a photographer? Which role do you enjoy most?
This is a very interesting question, My years of experiences in the different elements of the industry, I believe styling comes naturally to who I am. Creatively I have gained the confidence to draw inspirations from the different forms of art to make my looks a reality. As far as modeling that is something that I will forever love being apart of, I enjoy being a blank canvas to the art of the garment, it’s like being a character in a different world.

Francesca Sorrenti is your mentor. How did you two meet? How has she mentored you?
I met Francesca through her niece (Gray Sorrenti), who is a great friend of mine. Francesca and I connected through a similar love of the arts. She has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of what the industry can create. She motivated me to pursue my styling career because I always thought I couldn’t be a model and stylist at the same time. Since then, she has been supporting me and has been a great source of inspiration. Forever grateful for her wisdom and guidance.

Now more than ever it seems that being a model with another creative pursuit or talent is especially beneficial. How do you suggest brands and clients start to utilize models more effectively?
I believe models should be able to inspire, create and show a positive impact on the industry and the market itself. I would suggest clients to get to know the models that are being selected and see them beyond their beauty and figures.

How do you see the fashion industry progressing from here? What do you hope for in the future?
In the words of Coco Chanel, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Therefore, creativity never stops or slows down, this is just a recovery stage in our industry. Many artists are using this time of isolation as a planning and creative phase.
In other words, it’s my belief that the fashion industry will make the greatest comeback of its time. I hope designers will create stronger collections, more opportunities for stylists to bring artistry to those elements and use more diverse models to bring the garments to reality.

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