CALL ME MAX
Born in Singapore, raised in Southeast Asia, and now a New Yorker, I’m a womenswear fashion designer with a strong background in technical design. My background is in sustainability and social entrepreneurship, and my internationalism informs my design sensibility. Growing up an expat left me with a strong sense of wanderlust, the love of travel, and a deep love of international fashion, art and culture.
I studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design, started my womenswear career at Oscar de la Renta and have designed for Helmut Lang and GMG Collection. I also co-founded Kora Designs, a sustainably-minded jewelry line working with artisans in developing communities.
About KORA
KORA was launched in August 2009 by Maxandra Short Kramer and Amy Walker as a result of their shared visual style and commitment to sustainable economic development. KORA’s first collection featured one of a kind Ankole cow horn pieces made in Rwanda and has since expanded to include a variety of beautiful, locally sourced materials from Kenya and Ghana. Each collection is deeply influenced by the inherent properties of each unique material. KORA practices the idea of ‘trade-not-aid’ in order to directly provide the foundation for sustainable economic growth in these countries.
KORA’s handmade pieces feature recycled and sustainable materials found in and used by artisans in developing communities in Africa. KORA means ‘work’ in Kinyarwandan, Rwanda’s native language.