STORY BY GRACE MAEDA
ILLUSTRATION BY JANINE PULTORAK
As a member of the Marist College Fashion Program, Madeline Dintino is a young designer on a mission to bring more inclusivity to both the fashion industry and the community.
“I want to create an epidemic of radical empowerment,” Madeline said.
She wants to push the boundaries of fashion by providing power to those who often feel excluded from the industry. This vision is at the heart of Madeline’s ethos.
Madeline’s agenda includes addressing a wide variety of needs for different genders, abilities, and sizes in her fashion designs, while always remaining inclusive.
Madeline sees her fashion as an opportunity to promote social empowerment. “My fashion is fit for any gender and I don’t want anyone to be excluded,” Madeline said. “I want to create a platform where I can uplift as many voices in fashion. I’m trying to create garments for a world where people feel safe.” Madeline’s whimsical designs are paired with bright colors that are a source of empowerment and inclusivity. Her designs address all intersections of LGTBQIA+, race, size, age, culture, and abilities.
De-gendering fashion and creating more fluidity is extremely important to Madeline. “Fashion is one of the strongest tools to continue gendering, but it’s just not the world we live in anymore. Whether it’s a skirt or pants, it’s dictated by one seam. Frankly, it’s very arbitrary.” Among Madeline’s non-gender conforming designs are chest binders. “I am strongly passionate about creating safe chest binders for transgender men and anyone who wants to wear them. They’re not always safe and there isn’t a huge variety for different skin tones,” Madeline said.
In addition to destigmatizing gender in fashion, Madeline’s vision also includes addressing various needs. “I want to focus on diverse abilities. Those with wheelchairs and specific needs are always excluded in fashion. I don’t want them to feel like the ‘other.’”
Madeline also wants to create more inclusion for different body types. “Sizing obviously needs to be better in all ways. There’s been progress made for curvy bodies in women’s wear but not at all for men. There’s no press or publicity.”
Acknowledging intersectionality and different experiences are crucial in creating an accepting society. Intersectionality becomes critical to understand that many unique identities exist and therefore the need for equality. “Intersecting identities should be acknowledged. There are a million different identities that intersect and recognizing that is the first step towards creating equality. And it shouldn’t just be accepting and tolerating it, we should be celebrating it,” Madeline said.
Coming out as pansexual gave Madeline the opportunity to engage in the community in a new way. She conducted her own research about the struggles and systematic oppression that many individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community battle. Fashion has become her voice for embracing diversity and advocating for equality.
DooRi Chung, Madeline’s Senior Portfolio and Collections instructor, as well as an advisor at Marist, said, “Her work is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, which she captures through her creativity.”
As Madeline flips through her process book, pages turn one after the other with design illustrations and photos of Jonelle Monae, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles and Troy Sivan. Inspiration for Madeline’s fashion designs come largely from her favorite musicians and social activists. Lizzo has been particularly influential for Madeline because of her words on feminism, inclusivity, equality, and freedom. “Lizzo’s all about celebrating who you are. She’s always saying ‘no shade to any other shade’,” Madeline said. “I also always like to say, I’ve been listening to Lizzo way before she blew up.”
Participating in extra projects outside of her coursework has been instrumental in helping Madeline develop her design style. Madeline won the competitive YMA Fashion Scholarship during her sophomore and junior years by presenting a slide deck, graphic portfolio, clothing collection, and an essay. Madeline was then able to attend a gala that offered networking opportunities and potential internships.
Madeline is also creating a magazine on LGBTQIA+ issues as a part of her Honors thesis. She wants to provide more education and awareness to the public about LGBTQIA+ topics. One way is by suggesting helpful tips on how to politely ask someone’s pronouns.
In hand with promoting social equality, Madeline encourages all individuals to appreciate their bodies and practice their own forms of self-care, to be able to share that with everyone. “It begins with self-love and ultimately self-celebration,” Madeline said. “If we could all love ourselves a little more and treat ourselves with kindness and care, society would be a better place.”
Madeline is prescribing everyone to celebrate and treat themselves with love. “If you’re not taking care of yourself, how can you take care of others,” she said. By encouraging self-respect, Madeline hopes to create a movement of self-acceptance that will allow individuals to reciprocate that openness in society.
During her four years at Marist, Madeline has developed a better relationship with herself through self-love. “Through hardship and everything I’ve been through, I know who I am,” Madeline said. “I remember that I should be treating myself like a person that deserves care and respect.”
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