Malissa Long grew up near Beaumont, Texas, surrounded by the hum of sewing machines and the rustle of fabric. Her mother and grandmother, both skilled seamstresses, worked for a local fashion designer while she was in high school, sparking a passion within her. She pursued this interest at Sam Houston University, where she majored in Fashion Merchandising and took patternmaking as an elective. Her professional journey into fashion began in 2003 when a client at Jo-Ann's Fabrics in Austin asked her to create sample garments for her children's clothing collection. This opportunity and others led to developing her fashion collection, which she has since showcased at Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Kansas City Fashion Weeks. Her designs often incorporate fiber art and unconventional materials – she's been known to craft dresses from ties, jackets from bottle caps, and embellishments from recycled aluminum cans. As a founding member of the Austin Fiber Artists, she continues to refine her techniques through fiber art. Her environment influences her work and a commitment to sustainability, often incorporating repurposed and recycled materials. Her original art was developed out of samples for future garments. In 2018, she was honored with the Community Superstar award from Harvester Arts and Fisch Haus. In 2021, she was offered an artist-in-residence position at Botanica, in Wichita. These opportunities, along with the Wichita Riverfest Plein Air Competition, inspired her to explore Plein Air Sewing as a new direction in her art. She now paints landscapes on location with a battery-powered sewing machine. Beyond her creative pursuits, she is dedicated to fostering a vibrant arts community. She serves as the executive director of the Mulvane Community Foundation, where she helps produce several art-related events, including the Doc Sunback Film Festival. As a past president and secretary of The Arts Council, she has been a vocal advocate for the arts in Sedgwick County. She is currently involved in founding a statewide advocacy nonprofit, the Kansas Arts Network. She is also the chair of the Fiber Arts Center of the Wichita, Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers Guild. When she's not creating or advocating for the arts, she enjoys exploring and traveling with her husband and son. The intersection of fashion, fiber art, and community has been a constant theme throughout her journey, and she is excited to see where her passion will lead her next. Art is for sale.
Additional Items
