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 Huffington Post, 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.
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Photographer - Alex Butterfield
Hats/Headpieces - Apatico
Models: Jeweldine Kastman, Tatum Vanyo
Trevor Small
Hair/Makeup: Annie Shurson
Location - Merry Acres