Gathered Cloths featured in ELLE Canada
The crew behind our ELLE Canada feature + behind-the-scenes photos
I’m thrilled to share that Gathered Cloths was featured in ELLE Canada, worn by three incredible Bay Area models Nayana Vishva, Cindy Elluh, and Malaya Rodriguez in a stunning editorial spread spearheaded by photographer Danny Lairon. The crew includes makeup and hair artists Mayra Aguiar and Norma, vintage fashion curator Janina Angel Bath, and production team Dre Anderson, Enoch Pacheco, and retoucher Jack Mayer. Photoshoot location is Stuart Locklear’s studio and its vicinity in San Francisco. Here’s the story! All photos by Danny Lairon otherwise noted.
How It Happened
Shortly after Remake x KQED’s Walk Your Values fashion show in November 2024, photographer Danny Lairon reached out to me on social media. He’s building his reputation as a fashion photographer and has started to build momentum having his work featured in global magazine brands (Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Glamour, L’Officiel, and more).
He found out about my work through the Remake Bay Area’s Walk Your Values fashion show, and invited me to collaborate on a magazine feature project with a clear mission: pitch a fashion story about upcycling designers, highlighting sustainable practices in fashion. With the help of a PR company he works with, we set out to showcase Gathered Cloths in a way that would capture the attention of ELLE Canada readers.
The collaboration paid off, and the rest is history.
ELLE Canada published "From Waste to Wonder: Designer Mira Musank's Journey in Upcycled Design" in May 2025.
The Team
First of all, warmest shout-outs to the photoshoot team for making this ELLE Canada feature happen!
Designer: Mira Musank | Fafafoom Studio’s Gathered Cloths Project
Jewelry: Janina Angel Bath of Empress Vintage
Models: Nayana Vishva, Cindy Elluh, and Malaya Rodriguez
Hair & Makeup: Mayra Aguiar and Norma
Photographer: Danny Lairon
Production Team: Dre Anderson, Enoch Pacheco, and retoucher Jack Mayer
Venue: Stuart Locklear’s studio in San Francisco, CA
The Feature
From over 1,000 photographs taken during our half-day shoot, seven made it into the final ELLE Canada spread. Each image showcases how Nayana, Cindy, and Malaya interacted with modular Gathered Cloths garments. This interaction between wearer and object, captured by the Danny’s photography skills is simply a joy to experience, both on set and through the online feature.
Here are the seven final photos featured in ELLE Canada:
More Photos: Behind the Scenes
We had to move quickly for the photoshoot to happen. It was a Thanksgiving week, and many people were out of town. Once I said yes to craft three Gathered Cloths outfits for the photoshoot, the team got assembled. Within days, the time and location were set.
After several back and forth discussions with Danny, I opted to feature two existing looks from the Walk Your Values fashion show, as well as one new ensemble configuration.
The shooting day went really smoothly. Mayra got the makeup and hair concepts down; she and Norma executed the vision really well. Danny got his concepts figured out – an indoor shoot and an outdoor shoot with an “industrial mound of debris” type of surrounding.
Nayana, Cindy, and Malaya are all accomplished models and I’m really honored that they’re really excited to wear Gathered Cloths in this photoshoot project. I’m also very thankful for Janina’s trust in loaning me Empress Vintage jewelries (earrings and necklaces) for this shoot. It was a last-minute request and she swiftly said yes!
Here are 20+ pictures for you to enjoy, readers. They are either my favorite shots that didn’t make it to the feature, captures of preparations in-between takes, or rare glimpses of not-commonly-seen sides of Gathered Cloths.
Thank you Danny for sharing all the images – I had a great time selecting and editing them myself in Adobe Lightroom!
First set: Indoor in the Studio
Cindy Elluh wore the modular open-back dress with royal train, constructed with 55 Gathered Cloths. I adjusted the neckline to be a deep-V, inspired by Cindy’s model portfolio that’s rich with angular magic. As expected, she absolutely looked stunning.
Nayana Vishva is a killer on the runway, and she’s one of my top favorites in the Bay Area. I entrusted her with the new configuration - an ensemble of paisley corset, a pair of partly-open-sided Gathered Cloths pants, and a Gathered Cloths half sweater. Long story short, she killed it.
Malaya Rodriguez has a great mix of energy, allure, and attitude. I was initially concerned about how she looked in the ensemble of white lace bustier top, peach-pink tuxedo striped pants, and asymmetrical coat constructed with 24 Gathered Cloths. Thankfully, she knew exactly what to do as soon as she put them on.
What a blessing to work with such experienced models!
Second set: Outdoor in the Industrial Junkyard
I was able to secure the Empress Vintage jewelries in time for the outdoor photoshoot. It was a short walk to the industrial set near the studio, and the monochromatic gray/white background made the colorful ruffles of Gathered Cloths pop. Once again, I feel incredibly privileged to work with these amazing professionals.
Enjoy the pictures - I have no captions that could perfectly encapsulate the magic that Danny created with Malaya, Nayana, and Cindy.
That’s all for now! Thank you for celebrating this ELLE Canada feature with me. I would happily recommend everyone in the team, and I hope more of our works get recognized globally.
Thanks for reading; until next time,
Mira Musank