blasphemina

Samantha R. Crossland began her fashion design career with her label “Blasphemina’s Closet” in 2000. After closing “Blasphemina’s Closet” in September of 2013, she started anew with her new eponymous label “Samantha Rei”. “Samantha Rei” embodies the sweetness and femininity that has come to be expected from the designer.

Samantha Rei draws her inspiration from such illustrators as Chris Riddell, Brom, Tony DiTerlizzi, Brett Helquist and Mihara Mitsukazu as well as stories like Alice in Wonderland and Snow White. Her hero Alexander McQueen along with designers Vivienne Westwood, Hirooka Naoto, John Galliano, Victorian maiden and Anna Sui have all influenced her style.

In 1998, Samantha began attending the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, Minnesota, choosing to hone her skills as an illustrator and painter so she could pursue comic book art. After graduating in 1999, she spent some time at the College of Visual Arts (CoVA) in Saint Paul to major in illustration before continuing her education at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for Apparel Technologies. She’s been featured in Shojo Beat, the American Gothic and Lolita Bible, Gothic Beauty, Dark Beauty and was named one of 2014 City Pages “Artists of the Year”.

Samantha strives to help women feel confident, strong and comfortable in their own skin. She believes they can all be beautiful warriors.