Akilah-Marie Marshall 

Hometown: Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Collection in three words: Groovy. Unique. Fun.
Instagram: @akilah_marshmallow

Two loves that are evident in Akilah-Marie Marshall’s collection, Don't Split Up, are her affinity for vintage fashion and for vintage horror. “My inspiration came from watching movies from the 60s and 70s and really looking at what the characters wore during that time period,” she says. Marshall’s collection emulates iconic silhouettes such as flare bottoms and flare sleeves while giving them an edgy twist. Each look or “character” is inspired by classic horror character tropes found in films like Friday the 13th and Evil Dead. Through her collection, Marshall tells a story about a groovy gang on the run from a spooky specter. “I also play the cello and dance, and with those two mediums you can have a narrative with the piece,” Marshall says. “When performing you create your own little world on stage, so I hope people enjoyed seeing the world and story I created on the runway.”