Name: Alexandra Leigh Frumberg
Age: 22
Place of birth: Garden City, New York
Current residence: Wall Street, New York

I was born and raised in a large tight-knit family. My mother is Catholic with Irish, English and French roots and my father is Jewish with Hungarian and German roots. My parents have always encouraged me and my siblings to engage with the world around us and seek out our personal passions.

Since the age of 17 I wanted to be a fashion photographer. I feel very privileged to be able to pursue a career I am passionate about. Living in New York is a continuous source of inspiration for me. It encompasses my life both personally and professionally.

I use my clothing to express my moods and emotions so my personal style is in constant flux.  Some days I feel extremely exuberant and wear bright colours and other days I feel more innovative so my style is a bit edgier.

The human experience is different for women than it is for men. I love being a woman because we can openly express our emotions.

I am Complexd because I’m analytical and intuitive and objective and subjective. My art is my passion and my enthusiasm for it drives me to create the work I produce.

View more of Alexandra’s work here

I studied at The University of the Arts London – London College of Fashion (LCF). One of the perks of studying at Europe’s largest provider of education in art, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts is being a part of vastly talented alumni. When I graduated I dabbled in styling and art direction and used our large online gallery which showcases the work of students across the six creative colleges to source designers and photographers.  I find it really encouraging reconnecting with fellow graduates who are achieving their goals. I get a sense that we are a part of a large network of new talent that will be taking over our respective industries together.

Fellow graduate Jacqueline Rousseau, whose graduate collection I absolutely loved, got in touch with me today to update me on her progress since she graduated.

Jacqueline Rousseau photographed by Adrian Barry

Hi Jacqueline nice to hear from you, what have you been up to since we graduated from London College of Fashion (LCF)?

Well, after graduating from LCF, I was chosen by the British Fashion Council to complete an internship with Burberry Prorsum. After that I worked for an accessories label in London called The Jackson Twins before moving to New York City – where I currently live and work. I’m originally from Indiana but I studied fine art first which took me to Cambridge, England. I decided to study fashion design in London because I was really inspired by the UK.

Graduate collection photographed by  Fabrice  Lachant 

So is New York inspiring you more right now?

I moved to New York last year, because I wanted to start up my own label. The garment district in NYC is an amazing resource for designers and offers me the opportunity to build up my line. Setting up my label has been both rewarding and challenging. The most challenging part is getting my brand out there, as there are hundreds of new designers. But I am astounded by all of the creative and talented people I am meeting along the way and that has reinforced how much I enjoy what I do. I draw inspiration from everyday things I see. I’ve been feeling really nostalgic lately, so something like an old piece of clothing hidden away or a forgotten song that comes on in a shop or a bar can ignite a whole chain of creative thought.

AW11 photographed by YU + MA

What’s the difference between street fashion in London and street fashion in New York?

I would say that both cities have great street fashion, but I think that people push the envelope further in London by really exploring their personal style and just going for it. I can see some similarities with East London and Brooklyn.  I like how everything is so compact in NYC, you can see a lot by just walking  around. And I also like the people; they are really interested in others’ story.

SS12 photographed by YU + MA

I launched an online magazine called Complexd since we graduated. What makes your designs Complexd?

I love contrasts. My designs are sexy, but feminine. I like to use different textures, and sometimes clashing colours. For Spring Summer 2012 I made a screen print from a stud layout I designed- the contrast of the screen print with the actual studs is beautiful and Complexd.

To view more from Jacqueline’s collection visit www.jacqueline-rousseau.com

Image by Whitney Summer

Name: Haruka Sakurai (HARUKASALT999)
Age: Ageless
Place of birth: Japan
Current residence: New York

I was born and bred in Japan. My mother is a housewife and my father used to be a musician. My father is a very interesting individual, he was not the greatest family man, but he taught me very valuable life lessons.

I have been Djing for almost 15 years and music has always been a major part of my life. I started playing the piano and violin from a very young age and by the time I was 14 I had a collection of records. When I got my turntables the fun really started.

 I love sharing my music with people and seeing them dance during my set. It makes me the happiest person alive!

I surround myself with what I love and whom I love. My best assets are my ears and eyes to listen to good music while watching good people enjoying themselves.

Women are such beautiful creatures, we go through good and bad, but always follow our hearts. I believe everything happens for a reason, so I take those lessons and use them to grow and keep moving forward no matter what!

Image by Elliot Goldstein