Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Alexander.
Hi Dawn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Custom PaperDollz was started by me a Jacksonville Florida born native. I first began custom designing my PaperDoll clothes in the 70s as a child. Being unique and unlike others has haunted me since childhood. I was never satisfied with the “common” paperdoll clothing. I would use the large JC Penny catalogue for fashion forward looks and attempt to redesign my doll’s clothing…even down to making the matching boots.
Because my mother had a Singer sewing machine and made all her high fashion looks, I learned to sew at an early age. The clothes my mother would design and sew were done with such precision, that everyone thought we were rich. My mom’s dresses would always have coordinating footwear, headwear and handbag. Throughout my teen years in the mid 80s, I would use the sewing machine to alter my bell bottoms into “pencil” leg pants which was the latest fashion trend.
As an adult, I have created the following custom designs:
1. Handmade headwear to include unique designed derby, church, showgirl and cowgirl hats as well as cultural headpieces.
2. Fashion shows
3. Custom celebrity-inspired gear and famous characters: Mermaid, Pirate, Bellydancer, Fortune Teller and more.
4. Costumes for Carnival, International pageants, Halloween, and Bellydance events
5. Custom birthday costumes for themed events and special occasions
6. Costume rentals for photoshoots
7. Decor and custom pieces for special events, parties, and weddings.
Custom PaperDollz was also awarded 1st Place as amateur designer for The Orlando Caribbean Carnival Runway 2024. Custom PaperDollz was also chosen as one of the official designers for the upcoming 2025 Caribbean Carnival parades in Orlando as well as Jacksonville, Florida.
When I’m not creating wearable art for a new client, this civil engineer and general contractor is busy building the Orlando airport, local schools and nearby fire stations. I recall back in college taking a test to help me decide on a career. Although my analytical, logical and math skills immediately pointed to engineering and architecture, I do recall seeing fashion design and floral arrangements. I remember naturally wondering how to make a career at fashion, which I loved the creativity involved. After gaining my civil engineering degree, I immediately began designing infrastructure throughout central Florida. After only 6 months, I felt there was something else out there for me. I love my career, but making costumes gives me a warm and fuzzy euphoria that it hard to explain.
The one thing all my collections have in common is focus on making a woman feel as if she is her most beautiful version of herself. My 2025 collection is called Nu DAWN with two options: 1) The Jamet (colorful florals, bright contrasting feathers mixed with colorful gems and diamonds along an iridescent fabric. 2) The Warrior (tribal influence metallic blue trimmed with peacock colors and lime accents. Our curvy option intentionally uses contrasting colors and lines to contour naturally drawing the eyes to a woman’s most appealing assets. We believe that when a woman feels amazing about herself, she carries a more self-confident walk and can feel invincible. All designs are created to enhance each woman’s unique body type, maintain inclusion and help heighten awareness of all women’s beauty. Custom PaperDollz will always seek to highlight each woman’s best attributes, so she can feel her most confident version of herself.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As an African-American female Civil Engineer managing construction projects, life has never been easy for me. In addition to the aforementioned, I am only 5’1″and look at least 15-20 years younger than I am. In addition to not being the typical tall, white, male construction professional, I happen to have fashion sense and always willing to boldly show it. Back in the early 90s when I graduated, few women chose engineering or construction as a profession. Those that did typically dressed bland or unisex type style. Dawn, on the other hand, is extremely feminine and fashionable. I was determined that my colorful, fashion-forwarded style annd unique appearance had no affect on my ability to do my job. I was the only female that would dare to wear a tropical colored sundress or strappy sandals to class. After graduation, I continued with my makeup, big hair, jewels and brightly colored clothing even if I were the only fashionable person on my engineering team. I literally looked like a teenager by the time I graduated due to my youthful look. Even now at 55, some still think I am fresh out of college and sometimes treat me unfairly because I do not look old enough, or tall enough, or masculine enough, or white enough to be as smart as I am. I do not and have never let these obstacles deter me. I decided to be a trailblazer like the other women in my family and be the “first” to do a typical male-dominated job as well as or better than my counterparts and look FABULOUS while doing it exceptionally well. I was even once bullied by a supervisor trying to convince I would never be an engineer. He insisted that a school math teacher would better suit me. Once I started working, I was often teased and called Construction Barbie and told I should go into modeling instead of engineering. Instead of letting my differences force me into a different field of study, I used it as a super power. I was determined to single handedly prove that I can still look as girly as I want and still remain smart, innovative, highly intelligent and as bright as ever.
The ill treatment over the past 30-35 years is exactly what pushed me to be the best at everything I ever touched at work. Now, it is natural for me to not shy away when I am the different one in the room, and I actually enjoy not blending in with my background. This concept has spilled over into my love of the arts and each creation is intentionally unique from all the others on the market.
We’ve been impressed with Custom PaperDollz, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Since I was a little girl, I have always been obsessed with looking unique, different and fashionable. I grew up in church and sometimes felt a little sheltered. I attended 12 years of church school with a mandatory uniform, and the last two years were in an out of town boarding school. Our dress code was very strict with little room for individuality or self-expression. Now, I am no longer holding back and expressing myself through costume creations.
At this point in my art journey, I want to help others express their true inner selves and feel as beautiful, sexy and fabulous as they want through my costumes. My first participation in a carnival parade was Feb 2024 with my DC cousin, Atiya, and her concierge guide, WellFete Society. Because I love all things rhinestone and feathers, I thought I had died and gone to costume heaven. What I noticed was how many were gathered but not in a costume. I quickly realized the needs of the average woman were not being meet. The costumes were all gorgeous, but the needs of woman whose body has breastfeed was not necessarily given the support that she needs. Or the body conscious c-section mom may not want to show off her belly in a costume. I could relate since I had experienced body shaming for the same. I was asked multiple times “When is the baby due?” 6 years after my only child was born. So I understand.
I decided to design carnival costumes that use lines and contrasting color to contour a woman’s figure, offer support in the midsection and breast area for those that seek it. I was convinced that if offered an age appropriate option combined with a little more thoughtfulness and creativity that I can make something appealing to the more mature woman, conservative and/or post mommy body style. By placing accents in certain places, sometimes I can achieve the illusion of 10-20 lbs reduction. This can be a great esteem booster and who couldn’t use a pick me up.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My initial influence for this industry was from my mother. As far as I can remember, she designed what would today be considered couture designs. Each piece had custom hats, shoes with matching jewels or clips and even a coordinating clutch. Being outside of the box and looking fabulous was definitely taught by mom. I was in my 50s when I learned that she wanted to be a fashion designer and in 2025 still remembers the name of the NY design school, Pratt Institute, that she wanted to attend after high school in the 50s.
I have always created or modified my clothing to look unique, but never considered providing this service to others not until my good friend, Dr. Alexis Jennings of Zenshells, took notice. She is very fashion conscious and insisted that I was talented. For her 30th birthday, she hired me to not only decorate her 80s theme event, but also had me to create three costumes demonstrating 3 of her favorite 80s female artists. She wanted to use her 15k social media platform to help let others know that a star is emerging.
Another good friend, Ms. Janet Buford-Johnson (Florida’s State Representative for District 41 Candidate) decided to donate 4 different bundles of chiffon after learning of my limited resources to finance my efforts. She had beautiful fabric shipped directly to my home. She too hired me to create a Carnival costume for Canada’s Carabana Carnival celebration.
My bellydance instructor, Virginia Assad of Asada Bellydance allowed me to trade the solo dance in exchange for a bellydance fashion show 11/2023. I show cased 12 of my designs. In the audience was Naajia and her friend Aisha, owner of Dream Bella Designs, who sent an invitation for the Orlando Caribbean Carnival Runway competition for amateur designers 5/2024. She insisted that I could win 1st place and she was right. I did win first place.
Since that time, the CEO of Orlando Caribbean Carnival (Ms. Guenet) has opened so many doors for me here in Central Florida area. She took me under her wings. gives professional guidance, mentorship, introduces me to key members of this industry, provides a stage for my designs as well as models to showcase my work. One model in particular has become like a prayer sister for me. She unknowingly always speaks life into me just when I am beginning to wonder if I should just go back to engineering and leave this all alone. Kassandra (@bouujaahdoll) is not just a model, actress and entrepreneur, she’s a phenomenal woman and inspirational blessing even to strangers.
Honestly, I just feel so blessed to be well supported in an industry that I have no formal fashion education.
There are others like my oldest sister Diana purchased a new sewing machine and a former pastor is donating Dubai specialty fabrics in anticipation of my upcoming collection called Mid-DAWN. This is a Middle-Eastern inspired high fashion pieces that can be enjoyed by all cultures obsessed with creativity in fashion.
Pricing:
- The Jamet starts at $300
- The Warrior starts at $300
- Bellydance Costumes start $125
- Diamond Cowgirl Hat starts at $75
- Custom Derby Hats start at $75
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.CustomPaperDollz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/custom_paperdollz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093565112408&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/real-estate-rehab-solutions-llc/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/3_uvGMreEUU?si=jJKs_Hf4o8p416p8
- Other: https://youtu.be/UvDyOIcv0r8?si=hxnkjE-nBGy2pfwH
Image Credits
DLB Photography
Danny1Media
Battle Tested Photography, LLC
LifeStyle Photography
Pheeboz Photography
Studio SVNTN
