From the stages of performance art venues to the runways of Los Angeles Fashion Week, a unique artistic journey has transformed the traditional craft of rhinestone embellishment into tapestry-inspired wearable art. What began as a performer’s fascination with stage costume embellishments has evolved into a distinctive approach to creating custom performance wear that challenges conventional rhinestone application.
The creative force behind this transformation started their career as a performance artist, where exposure to the glittering world of stage costumes sparked an unexpected passion. Rhinestones, those ubiquitous elements adorning countless performance outfits, became the focal point of an artistic exploration that would eventually define a new creative path.
Armed with a bachelor’s degree in media arts and animation from the Art Institutes, the artist brought a trained eye for design and composition to the meticulous craft of rhinestone work. This combination of formal artistic training and hands-on performance experience proved to be a natural foundation for developing a distinctive style in costume embellishment.
Each creation emerging from Alterior Motives performance wear represents hundreds of hours of dedicated design work and handcrafted application. The approach differs fundamentally from typical rhinestone decoration, drawing inspiration from the flowing, narrative quality of tapestry art. This technique gives each garment a sense of movement and visual storytelling that sets it apart in the performance wear industry.
The commitment to quality extends to materials selection, with only premium rhinestones making their way onto these custom pieces. This attention to detail in both design execution and material selection has established a reputation among performers seeking distinctive stage wear that transcends ordinary costume decoration.
The artist’s performance background has taken them across the country, including notable appearances at the Emerald City Kings Ball in Seattle. These experiences in the performance community have provided direct insight into what performers need from their stage wear, from visual impact under stage lighting to the durability required for demanding performances.
This October marks a significant milestone with a debut at LA Fashion Week, representing a transition from performance venues to high fashion runways. The move signals recognition of this rhinestone artistry as not merely costume decoration but legitimate fashion craft worthy of major industry attention.
The custom rhinestone designs available through commission offer performers, actors, and musicians access to truly one-of-a-kind pieces. Unlike mass-produced embellished garments, each commissioned work functions as an individual artistic entity, with design elements carefully composed to create visual flow across the garment’s surface.
The tapestry-inspired approach represents the core differentiator in this work. Where traditional rhinestone application often follows geometric patterns or simple embellishment of existing design elements, this method treats the garment surface as a canvas for flowing, interconnected visual narratives. The result resembles the complex storytelling found in historical tapestries, translated into the contemporary medium of stage wear.
This artistic philosophy positions each garment as more than functional performance wear. The pieces become collaborative works between the artist and the performer who will wear them, with design considerations addressing both aesthetic vision and practical performance requirements.
For performers seeking stage wear that makes a statement beyond typical costume shop offerings, the commission-based model provides opportunity for direct collaboration on design concepts. This approach ensures that the final piece aligns with the performer’s artistic vision while showcasing the distinctive tapestry-like rhinestone application that has become the signature of this work.
The journey from performance artist to rhinestone artisan and fashion designer illustrates how specialized craft skills, combined with artistic training and industry experience, can carve out unique niches in creative industries. What started as appreciation for a single element of performance costume design has evolved into a recognized artistic specialty.
As the fashion week debut approaches, the expansion from performance venues to runway shows represents validation of this approach to garment embellishment as legitimate fashion artistry. For the performance art, music, and theater communities, it offers access to custom stage wear that elevates rhinestone work from decorative afterthought to central design element.
The combination of meticulous handcraft, artistic design training, and deep understanding of performance requirements continues to define this distinctive approach to creating wearable art for those who command attention on stage.
