Meet the Designer

An Idaho-born fashion designer and Project Runway Junior alum, Cartier Dior Eliasen is known for narrative-driven couture and experimental materials. Her work reflects a journey that blends Idaho potato farming roots, formal high-fashion training, and a deep love of Americana storytelling.

Q&A with Cartier

How has your Idaho upbringing shaped the vision behind this collection? 

Sewing has been a proud tradition for the women in my family for generations, and with this collection, I wanted to honor that tradition as well as my family’s connection to Idaho potato farming. The jumping-off point was the burlap potato sack dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, an image I remember seeing for the first time at the Idaho Potato Museum as a child. I’ve always loved the contrast of something so glamorous paired with something so simple, and that idea stayed with me as I developed each one-of-a-kind look.

How do these looks reflect where fashion is today and where it’s headed?

These looks balance past and present, with classic silhouettes made modern through asymmetrical hemlines, colorful graphics, and intricate draping. With the rise of fast fashion and an overabundance of trends, I think fashion is shifting away from chasing what’s “trending” and moving more toward storytelling through personal style. This collection is a reflection of that shift.

What elements of the collection are you most excited for audiences to experience on the runway?

I am so excited for audiences to see something truly unexpected. Idaho and fashion may seem like an oxymoron, but there is something so fun and unique about that contrast. I can’t wait for people to see all the hand-created details, from the painted graphics to the carefully stitched draping and everything in between.