It will be Jessica Mary Clayton’s fourth time participating in [FAT]. This year she will be presenting her collection Heretic.

Where is home?
Toronto with my beau and pooch, Particle.

So you are are scheduled to show off your work on day 2, which is LUST. How do your designs fit in with these themes?
I wouldn’t say they are particularly ‘lusty’ designs. I usually pursue a feeling of elegance more than sexiness with my designs. But that being said, most of my pieces are body conscious and they definitely could inspire a little lust.

If you could give your collection a one word theme (not lust) what would it be?
I’ve actually called this year’s collection Heretic. The original inspiration for the collection was Joan of Arc. I love the idea of her two sides, the tough armored woman and the saint. From her I drew my contrasting palette of darks and lights and hand studded fabrics. As I worked more on the collection I found influences from stylist Catherine Baba and Marchesa Casati for their silhouettes and 20s/30s influence.

What do you, as a designer, get out of Alternative Fashion Week that you can’t get anywhere else?
A chance to show! Vanja is an amazing person with motivation I could only wish for. I’ve seen her take FAT from a small but well organized event at a club on King Street to a full-blown fashion and arts event in amazing locations. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the new location this year.

Describe your personal style?
Loyal. I tend to fall madly in love with a few key pieces and keep them on constant rotation. Right now it’s my pale wash Uniqlo Jeans and my Acne Atacoma wedges.

Who/what inspires you?
I think, like many designers, I always have that fear of not being able to come up with something new, innovative, different…. So to combat that fear I constantly have my ‘inspiration box’ in the back of my mind as I pass through my day.

Did you ever have a major ah-ha! Moment? Tell us about it.
I guess it came after finishing my first degree. I had studied Communication Studies at the University of Calgary. I graduated and realized right away I wasn’t meant for a desk job. I bought a sewing machine a few months later and before long was studying fashion at Ryerson.

As a kid, were you doing anything that, in retrospect, may have lead up to what you are doing now?
Sure it’s the usual answer: My mom used to make our ‘fancy’ outfits (ie. Christmas, First Communion, Easter) when we were kids. Naturally I was sitting at her side hand sewing little bits and pieces. I think it’s that and the fact that I knew I wanted to be different than all the kids I grew up with in Northern Alberta.

What are you most likely to be doing at 2 a.m. on a Saturday night?
Probably sleeping or drinking red wine with my boyfriend.

What’s your item in your closet?
Right now it’s my leather biker hat from Doc’s Leathers on Queen. You won’t see me walking around town without it.

What’s a summer 2010 trend that you won’t be wearing?
I’ve noticed the hems on t-shirts are starting to creep their way again. I think my stomach flashing days are over.

If you could design an outfit for a dead celebrity who would it be?
Marchesa Luisa Casati, she is one of the inspirations behind this year’s collection. She was an extremely eccentric heiress from the early 20th century who was said to walk cheetahs on leashes and throw hedonistic parties. There is a haunting portrait of her at the ROM that started my fascination with her.

Fill in the blank: __________ is the new black: Gareth Pugh

East coast or west coast? East