{"id":134916,"date":"2020-10-26T13:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T17:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=134916"},"modified":"2023-03-18T18:00:13","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T22:00:13","slug":"alva-claire-on-breaking-the-sample-size-mold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=134916","title":{"rendered":"Alva Claire on Breaking the Sample Size Mold"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.centerimg {padding:4em 7em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg2 {padding:4em 4em;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg3 {padding:4em 3em;margin:20px 0;}\n.sidetxt {padding:16em 2em 16em 2em;;margin:20px 0;}\n.centerimg img {margin-bottom:0px;}\n.instagram-media {margin:auto !important;}\n#wp-content hr {margin: 40px auto 80px auto;width: 80%;}\n<\/style>\n<p><strong>The initial mold of restrictive sample sizes has been questioned by models and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CFB1Z-2pL4O\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">creatives<\/a> alike for its soundness. As consumers embraced social media and started to reject curated fantasies in place of realism, luxury brands have been desperate to maintain their global influence while dragging their feet on letting go of the status quo. Whether it was <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/jill-kortleve\">Jill Kortleve<\/a> at Chanel or Precious Lee at <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/versace\">Versace<\/a> this season, a handful of models have set out to break the runway mold with their rising careers, case-in-point is the South London, Brooklyn-based model <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/models\/alva-claire\">Alva Claire<\/a> who&#8217;s recent featured work in <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/i-d-magazine-gigi-hadid-for-rihannazine\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">i-D<\/a> and on the runways of <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/savage-x-fenty\">Savage x Fenty<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/versace\">Versace<\/a> has boosted her star-quality as of late. We spoke to the style enthusiast about developing her own taste, walking for Donatella this season, and the need to develop a deeper understanding of what real inclusivity means.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2550\" height=\"1650\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-134922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_8.jpg 2550w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_8-640x414.jpg 640w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_8-1280x828.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2550px) 100vw, 2550px\" \/><br \/>\n<small>Photography by Xavier Avery @ IMG Originals | Images courtesy of <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/agency\/IMG\">IMG (New York)<\/a><\/small>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"centerimg2\">\n<p><strong>Where are you originally from and how were you discovered?<\/strong><br \/>\nI am originally from south London, my dad is Jamaican and my mum&#8217;s family is Swedish and she lived in the States before moving to London. I was scouted a few times in my teens but I was first signed at 18 when I submitted an application to an agency after seeing an ad in a weekly magazine that had an article on plus-size modeling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What first brought you to Brooklyn, NY and how has the relocation been to this side of the pond? How is NY different from London?<\/strong><br \/>\nI started coming to New York for work in 2017 and I loved the energy I felt here. Even though I\u2019m from London I found New York quite overwhelming at first but so exciting at the same time. It was in a cab on the way to JFK after one of my longest trips I had this feeling, it was a really crisp clear New York days where the sun cuts down the streets and it\u2019s warm but the air is brisk and I felt so upset leaving but then wound down the window and grinned because at that moment I decided &#8211; I\u2019m moving. I have always wanted to live in a different city to the one I grew up in but it was always so daunting and scary. I\u2019ve learned so much about myself and so much about where I\u2019m from it\u2019s amazing to be able to reflect and understand a different place. I miss London loads and all my people in it, especially this year as I haven\u2019t gone back in a while. Both cities are very important to me I feel so lucky I get to know them as I do.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How would you describe your style?<\/strong><br \/>\nI would describe my style as ever-changing and very connected to my mood. It\u2019s growth to see your style develop over time, I became less interested in trends and circled back to when I was in my teens just wearing what makes me feel powerful. Vintage and thrifting are a huge part of my wardrobe it\u2019s so fun to find original pieces that already have a story. I gravitate towards mixing textures, eras, and shapes, anytime I feel like I\u2019m getting boxed in with my style I switch it up. <\/p>\n<p><strong>How has altering your clothes developed your unique sense of style? What pieces do you gravitate towards the most?<\/strong><br \/>\nGetting things altered that I find thrifting or even old clothes that don\u2019t fit but I still like the fabric has been such fun, I don\u2019t like feeling limited; I will find a way to wear anything. I love the narratives clothes have and how when they are altered it brings new meaning to the look, it\u2019s completely unique to you.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2550\" height=\"1650\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-134920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_5.jpg 2550w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_5-640x414.jpg 640w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_5-1280x828.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2550px) 100vw, 2550px\" \/><br \/>\n<small>Photography by Xavier Avery @ IMG Originals | Images courtesy of <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/agency\/IMG\">IMG (New York)<\/a><\/small>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"centerimg2\">\n<p><strong>How would you describe the experience of walking for the Versace S\/S 21 show? <\/strong><br \/>\nWalking the Versace S\/S21 show for the first time was equally emotional and electrifying. I felt the history of the legendary fashion house that day and what it meant that Precious, Jill, and myself were walking together. The Versace woman has always held such power, beauty, and strength. I felt so alive, a beautifully surreal moment that I will never forget. <\/p>\n<p><strong>What are your thoughts on the fashion industry\u2019s steps this season towards body inclusivity? What changes would you like to see in the fashion industry? <\/strong><br \/>\nI think the fashion industry still has a long way to go in regards to body inclusivity on the runway but I feel like it is moving in the right direction. I feel that consistency and unity is very important for breaking down the doors that have been closed for so long. Each season I would love to see more opportunities for models of different sizes. For real change, the industry needs to develop a deeper understanding of what real inclusivity means. I\u2019m excited about the future of fashion and so full of hope but it is vital that the change and growth happening now continues to build momentum. <\/p>\n<p><strong>This is your second season walking for Savage X Fenty. How was the atmosphere of the show this year compared to last year? <\/strong><br \/>\nIt was really exciting to be back on set for the Savage x Fenty show this season. It was so different this year with no live audience but the atmosphere and energy were still so beautiful. It&#8217;s like a family so it was really special to be back on set with some of the models, dancers, and Savage team from last year. I was so excited to be meeting some people for the first time too! I felt so powerful in my look, after spending lots of my time in old socks and a big T-shirt since March &#8211; it was good to be back. It\u2019s not just how you look when you wear Savage &#8211; it\u2019s how it makes you feel. The show was pure magic; it was so incredible to be part of it again.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"centerimg\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1275\" height=\"1650\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-134918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_1.jpg 1275w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_1-495x640.jpg 495w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2020\/10\/ALVA_1-989x1280.jpg 989w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1275px) 100vw, 1275px\" \/><br \/>\n<small>Photography by Xavier Avery @ IMG Originals | Images courtesy of <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/agency\/IMG\">IMG (New York)<\/a><\/small>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"centerimg2\">\n<p><strong>Are there any designers you would love to work with and why?<\/strong><br \/>\nHow much time have you got haha! There are so many designers that I would love to work with that I\u2019m really excited by but I would have to say especially Alexander McQueen, the raw beauty and power of the house has always been so fascinating to me. It would be very special to walk in couture one day and I\u2019ve always wanted to work with menswear designers too that would be cool! <\/p>\n<p><strong>What impact do you want to make in the fashion industry? <\/strong><br \/>\nThe impact of real change!\n<\/div>\n<p><!--pp-thumb-start--><!--PictPress found no dir \/2020\/10\/134916--><!--pp-thumb-end--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The initial mold of restrictive sample sizes has been questioned by models and creatives alike for its soundness. As consumers embraced social media and started to reject curated fantasies in place of realism, luxury brands have been desperate to maintain their global influence while dragging their feet on letting go of the status quo. Whether&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":444,"featured_media":134922,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10414,16,13940],"tags":[12497,2429,11753,12785,482],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134916"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/444"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=134916"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":134976,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134916\/revisions\/134976"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/134922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=134916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=134916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=134916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}