Getting to know TOO FLAME before they take the Runway - February 7th at New York Fashion Week

Getting to know TOO FLAME before they take the Runway - February 7th at New York Fashion Week

Over the years, we have sat down with numerous designers from all over the world. However, this specific designer, Seseley Paige, the solo designer of the brand 'TOO FLAME' was one that we needed to know more about.

Her designs came from a place of sustainability, from pain but also joy and passion. When creating such beautiful art... having a deep reasoning behind it can make the clothing more than just garments, but a push to give you confidence, an edge, etc. when walking down the street. 

We sat down with Seseley and learned about her brand which is going to be presenting in New York City on Friday, February 7th at the Runway 7 Productions Fashion Show.

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1) What is your main inspiration behind your designs? Where do you find inspiration?

The concept for the “Too Flame” line is inspired by the mythology of “twin flames”. In this myth, it is believed that one soul can be split into two bodies each of which representing opposite sides of duality, for example light & dark, sun & moon, yin & yang, good & evil. This is sometimes referred to in that myth as “the divine feminine” & “the divine masculine”. That is the primary influence to everything I design and my goal is to create looks that balance those energies. Balance is harmony. Harmony is beauty. Beauty is love. 

2) Which cite, monument, art piece, city, etc. makes you jealous that you did not create it? As in, when you see it.. it feels like 'you'?

While I think jealousy is totally natural & human ..I wouldn’t use the term to describe this. I have a deep appreciation for art, but there isn’t a lot of art that I’ve seen that gives me the feeling of “wow, this is so me”. That very reason is essentially why I create. But I do have an example to give. There’s an underground metal band from New Orleans called “Brat” and I love their branding & merch so much. They’re female fronted, which I love. All of their merch & artwork mixes heavy metal and pink pop aesthetics. 

The album art for their first EP “Mean is what we aim for” is witty and aesthetically has that element of duality and was a rare instance of me seeing something and thinking “Damn, that’s so me”. 

They’re one of my favorite bands and love seeing anyone from my home state win, no jealousy there but envious for sure. 

3) What events in your life helped you choose fashion designing as a career? What people encouraged you most?

I started designing during the pandemic. Though I’ve always had a love of fashion and wanted to go to college for fashion merchandising, the universe had other plans. I found out at my freshman orientation that the fashion merchandising program had been cut along with many others because of funding issues at the state university I was enrolled in. I wanted to pick another major and ended up going with my dad’s suggestion of Information Technology and attempted to double major in Business & I.T. 

I ended up working in I.T. as my career, eventually holding a position as a Systems Engineer. 

During the pandemic, very long story short, I felt led to figure out where my purpose & passion lay. 

I sold vintage clothing on Etsy for a decade as a side hustle and wanted to take that to the next level by designing my own clothing, an idea I toyed with for several years. 

I took some beginner and later on level 1 sewing classes and really jumped in head first after that. 

Since I’m self-taught for the most part, the rest has been a learning journey & just kind of following the thread. 

When I told my family that I wanted to pursue fashion design, at the unconventional age of 30, I thought that they would react negatively but I think I was so fired up about the idea that they believed in it too. That was surprising, but they were supportive. 

4) What are your favorite trends in fashion - both past, present and future? 

I’m more about “classics” than trends..so my favorites will always go in and out of popularity which in my opinion makes them classic. & I’m very petite, just under 5 feet tall so that has some influence on what I like the most. 

Platform boots, Crop tops, Moto jackets 

All things that are very flattering to those of us who are petite but also timeless staple pieces that really look good on anyone.

I think the fashion world is starting to move beyond trends in a sense which is ultimately great for the sustainability movement that I am a part of with my line. 

5) What is the theme of the collection that you will be presenting?

The name of this collection is “Bad Witch Goes”. I thought about calling it Bad Witch goes either East or West or in some direction but shortened it to imply that it doesn’t really matter where she’s going but she’s here. She has arrived. 

My last collection “Modern Fairytale Romance” was very colorful, light & fluffy. One of the models from my S/S ‘25 show in Los Angeles said it was “giving corporate fairy” if that paints a picture. 

I wanted this collection to be a sister to the last and almost be an extension of it to show the other side. 

One side being fluffy & fairy and one side being bad ass witch was also partially inspired by book/ broadway play/ movie “Wicked” which also fits into the broader theme of the line. 

6) Did how you grew up and where you grew up have an effect on your collection?

I grew up for the most part, ages 5-18 in a very rural small town with a population of 3,000 in northwest Louisiana on the Texas border. I was an outsider in that environment to say the least. 

The dark energy of feeling like an outsider and feeling like you don’t belong actually is a huge part of what I’m channeling with this collection. 

7) Where do you call home? Does this city give you inspiration or do you draw inspiration from other cities or traveling?

I’ve been a bit nomadic in life for various reasons, one of which was being a Navy brat in early childhood. I’ve lived in 7 states and 12 cities.  

I’d say New Orleans or the neighboring Mississippi Gulf Coast line feels the most like home and I spent several years living & spending time in the area. 

New Orleans subculture was an inspiration for this collection. It has largely influenced my personal style & taste. I love live music and over the years I have gone to many shows within the local Metal & Hardcore Punk scene and with this collection in particular, I wanted to try and weave elements of the fashion of those subcultures into the designs while still putting my own spin on it. 

8) What is your favorite thing about presenting your designs on the Runway?

We all create to be seen & understood. I would much rather tell someone who I am without using words. I would rather show them visually. That’s why I love fashion so much, because it gives you an opportunity to be a walking canvas daily. My favorite thing about presenting on the runway is to have the space to share my voice & message with the world on any stage big or small. 

9) Who do you want to thank this season? Did you have someone that pushed and helped you get to the Runway this year?

I would like to thank:

Myself, without my belief in myself, I wouldn’t be here.

God, without my belief in God, I wouldn’t be here. 

May Alamar, who has worked on our currently very small design team for the past two seasons. This collection she was the only other person other than myself involved & she helped bring to life my ideas for the crochet pieces you will see. 

Zak Peters, who is basically my emotional support & right hand man. He’s someone in my life who is always in my corner, pushing me & encouraging me to pursue my passion. 

Holy Witch, a heavy psych rock band also from the state of Louisiana. I reached out to them to see if they were comfortable with me using their music for my show and they were very nice & cool about it. I appreciate it because the selection was very important to me for establishing the vibe. 

10) What do you want your audience to feel or take home when leaving your show? What is it that you are trying to 'leave' with each member of the audience?

I want them to feel like they’re inside of a film. Like, in a movie from the 90s when the group of “it girls” walk into frame and everything is in slow motion. Except the girls are all dressed in black and look moody & mysterious & witchy. I want it to feel like that, If that makes sense. 

I want the audience to leave wondering who I am and wanting to know & see more. I want to make an impression. 

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TICKETS

As you can see, Seseley is here for the long run when it comes to her designs. She has a passion to not just create trends or clothing, but to spill her own energy... dark and light, masculine and feminine, etc. into her clothing. Something that you can feel when wearing the clothing.

This year, Fashion PR Firm, will be attending her 2nd show that she has ever presented on the Runway. We look forward to seeing a beautiful designer show her collection, but most importantly, show us a part of her. Not the exterior, but something much deeper. What she was feeling within when she created her magic.

This story was written by Brit Olivia, Producer for Fashion PR Firm

Interview questions: Brit Olivia

Responses: Seseley Paige 

 

MAIN PHOTO: 

Torry Sledge
IG: @the_quantum_lotus @qlotuslabs
Torry.sledge@gmail.com
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