3-02-2023 5:03pm

Alamogordo Proud It is All About the Fashion Spotlight Alamogordo Artisan Linda Swenson

Chris Edwards Editor

Linda Swenson an inspiration at age 80, created a line of clothing, fulfillment of a childhood dream.

It’s never too late to fulfill your dreams and Roadrunner Emporium Fine Art, Antiques and More at 928 New York Avenue Alamogordo is “Alamogordo Proud” to showcase and represent resident artist Linda Swenson and tell her story.

Linda Swenson is a bundle of energy in her 80s, acts like her 50’s, who can be seen at her working studio at 1100 New York Avenue and on location at Roadrunner Emporium during special events, spinning her yarns, threading and imagining creative and wonderous fine clothing creations.

Mrs. Swenson specializes in high end fabrics from around the world and is partial to textiles from the Middle East, South America, Mexico, the Andes and Tibet. She specializes in creating unique and one of a kind designer ruanas, blouses, jackets, wraps and saris.

At age 9 she dreamed of high fashion. During her childhood her father would drive her 45 miles monthly where she could buy a Katy Keen comic book. She would trace the paper dolls and make patterns. Mrs. Swenson had a Betsy McCall paper doll she would design clothes for. She used McCall patterns but would customize and alter them. As soon as she was old enough to own a sewing machine, she made her own clothes.

Mrs. Swenson has a degree in communications from Steven Point University and her professional career was as a welfare case manager.

Upon her retirement Linda reengaged in her childhood passion of high fashion. She lives with her husband Jeff, in Alamogordo, who is often seen at her side, encouraging her passion, and as a proud partner to her success.

Linda became involved in the Alamogordo arts community when the Tunnel Stop Gallery was around and partnered in spinning with Sue Tassinari. She claims she spun her way through the pandemic. A large selection of her home spun yarn spools can be found at Roadrunner Emporium and the Local Bodega. Mrs. Swenson more recently spun with the High Canyon Weavers and Spinners at New York Art and Music Studios at 1100 New York Avenue and during special event nights at Roadrunner Emporium.

Mrs. Swenson explains her mission towards locally created high fashion. “My mission, in designing fashion, is to bring forth the design and artistic power of the person making the fabrics in my designs. I choose beautiful functional fabrics from around the world. I’ve recently discovered a small weaving company in North Carolina that produces authentic Native American designs that I’m now incorporating into even more garments.”

Mrs. Swenson’s high-end fashions have gained acclaim the world over. She has fans that have purchased her designs at Roadrunner Emporium, and they have traveled back to Paris, London, Mexico, Germany, Iseral and from all over the US and Canada. The gallery has repeat tourists that comes each year and visit specially to see Mrs. Swenson’s newest designs. One woman from Houston, comes every year and gets a Linda Swenson selection, to wear to the annual Cancer Awareness Gala in Houston. "It's All About the Fashion" says Johnny Vasquez who is a huge local fan of Linda Swenson Designs. Mrs. Swenson has made designs custom for both Johnny and his wife Bobby.

New York Art and Music Studio and Roadrunner Emporium hosted a fashion show this fall highlighting the wonderful creations of Linda Swanson, and the jewelry designs of local jewelry maker Dottie Moon.

This fashion show in the fall hosted in the Gardens of New York was a fun evening of high fashion and brought out an array of people to pay tribute to the creations of Mrs. Swenson.

The fashion show fulfilled a lifelong dream of having her fashions showcased by models on a runway. Now that is certainly “Alamogordo Proud!

“Linda is such a joy to partner with and she is well respected for each garment as being unique and of the highest quality” explains Roadrunner Emporium Fine Art Gallery and ReneFit, founder Rene Sepulveda.

Mrs. Swenson is passionate about the quality of fabrics used and says, “I want the customer wearing my designs to understand that they are wearing a piece of world art, fabric assembled into a garment locally in Alamogordo by woven by a true artist or craftsperson in another exotic location or country. It’s my way of conveying that the fact that we are all people of the world. We just have different addresses.”

Her designs are of the highest quality and design elements. Her higher end garments are made of Silk or Cashmere Wool. Her Cashmere Wool Hopi Coats are highly prized. Cashmere goats produce as fine soft wool that is most coveted in the fine clothing industry.

She explained to Alamogordo Town News that: “the Pashmina breed of goat produces this finest of cashmere wool. The word Pashmina literally translates into “soft gold” in Kashmiri. The goat sheds its winter coat 3 to 6 ounces every spring which is then collected and spun to produce cashmere threads. Scotland began milling cashmere in the 1830’s and it is still today considered the industry leader in fine fabrics and threads.”

Mrs. Swenson uses a variety of fabrics from around the world in the assembly of her high fashion designs. From Silk to Cashmere all procured from artisans worldwide and then in Alamogordo envisioned into a fine high fashion wearable by Mrs. Swenson.

Mrs. Linda Swenson at age 80, is fulfilling her childhood dream as a fashionista is the exact candidate to represent the positivity of “Alamogordo Proud.” Roadrunner Emporium, New York Art and Music, KALHRadio.org and AlamogordoTownNews.com are honored to present those individuals and highlight those making a positive impact to Alamogordo that demonstrate the theme of “Alamogordo Proud.”