Elena Marshall is a 2021 FSF Scholar and Parsons Paris 2022 graduate who now brings her global perspective to Aimé Leon Dore, where she designs Menswear Cut & Sew and Knits. From Paris studios to New York showrooms, she continues to embody the curiosity and perseverance that drive FSF Scholars around the world.
Through her work at Aimé Leon Dore and her ongoing jewelry project, Ama Button Club, Elena’s journey reminds us that fashion’s future is shaped by those who stay curious, keep learning, and dare to reimagine what’s possible.
FSF: How would you describe your personal style in four words?
Elena Marshall: Paris meets New York.
FSF: What’s the most important lesson you learned through FSF?
EM: Try hard and keep trying.
FSF: The future of fashion is _____.
EM: Full of possibilities.
FSF: How did FSF help you embark on your career—and how do you continue to tap into the community or its resources today?
EM: The fashion industry is so hard to break into when you’re just starting out. FSF gave me the opportunity to apply to Aimé Leon Dore. I got the internship, decided to move to New York, and eventually joined the design team full-time. I still feel like I’m discovering my path as a designer, but FSF opened doors for me at really important early moments. I’d love to give back to the community as a mentor and continue being involved.
FSF: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your fashion journey so far?
EM: Interning for Ana Kraš was really inspiring. I look up to her, so it meant a lot to see how she approached design and her confidence in the process. If something wasn’t working, she was quick to move on and into new ideas. Having role models like that gives us the courage to find our own path.
FSF: Can you tell us about a recent project you’re proud of?
EM: I’m really proud of my ongoing jewelry project, Ama Button Club. My friend Cassandre and I started it a couple of years ago in Paris. We were both heartbroken and had inherited 40 pounds of antique abalone shell buttons. We wanted to create jewelry from forgotten objects and pass them down to the next generation. I spent this year perfecting the design for our first piece, an earring made from an engagement ring, and we just sold the first one!
FSF: What role do you see mentorship playing in the future of fashion?
EM: I recently watched the Jane Goodall National Geographic documentary after her passing, and I realized how much she’s influenced me. Mentorship is everywhere—it can be formal, but it can also be subtle and ongoing. In fashion, it can be hard to find, but it exists all around us if we pay attention.
FSF: Are there any lessons from your time as an FSF Scholar or Alumna that continue to resonate with you today?
EM: Your creative generation is the people around you right now—your friends, peers, and colleagues walking alongside you. Look to them as your partners and collaborators, not just to generations past.
FSF: Any upcoming projects you’d like to share?
EM: Stay tuned for Ama Button Club. :)
FSF: Anything else you’d like to add?
EM: Be brave. And read A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin.
📲 Follow Elena’s journey: www.elenamars.com | @elenammars
