Artist Story — Alece Plasencia

I build worlds at the intersection of sound, experience, and art.

I tell stories in denim, sound, and experiences. Long before I understood fashion or art as something you study, I understood creating. Some of my earliest memories are

tactile ones: the weight and warmth of my grandmothers’ handmade quilts, each

square stitched with care and history.

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I grew up in San Francisco in the early 1970s, during a politically charged era shaped by the civil rights movement, feminism, and the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. My parents were intentional about teaching me that the world is diverse, layered, and powerful—and that those differences should be celebrated. Inclusivity and self-expression were lived values, not abstract ideas. That foundation continues to shape how I create.

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As a child, I styled paper dolls and Barbies as characters with stories. As a teenager, thrift stores became my creative playground. I built one-of-a-kind looks for high school, experimenting with identity through clothing. For my prom, I designed my own dress inspired by a photograph torn from Vogue—my favorite magazine—modeled after a Yves Saint Laurent campaign. Even then, I wasn’t trying to fit in. I wanted to wear my point of view.

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I followed a traditional path for many years. I attended college, became an educator, and spent my career helping young people imagine futures bigger than they thought possible. Along the way, I married Saul, a Mexican-born, Los Angeles–raised immigrant who already had a five-year-old son. I had a two-year-old son of my own. Together, we formed a blended family rooted in love, culture, and resilience. From that union, we welcomed our daughter—our muse—our Blaxicana.

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The name Blaxicana was born from our family and our life. It signifies diversity, unity, and pride—bringing people together regardless of background, while honoring who you are as an individual. It is about celebrating yourself fully while celebrating others at the same time. The jackets I create reflect this value. Each piece is a one-of-one work designed to hold identity, story, and cultural pride.

Music has always run parallel to fashion. The San Francisco club scene of the 1980s taught me sound as freedom and belonging. The Los Angeles club scene of the 1990s taught me rhythm and cultural collision. Long before I had language for it, I was hosting—curating playlists, styling looks, and inviting people into my home and loft. Experience and community were always the most important elements.

Sound was the invitation. Art was the beauty.

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In 2018, after a transformative trip to Japan, I finally chose to honor my own creative life. I created my first custom denim jacket, treating denim as a canvas and lining it with luxurious brocade inspired by global craft traditions. In 2019, I sold my first piece poolside at Coachella and began merging sound, fashion, and storytelling into immersive gatherings of my own.

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Today, my work lives under House of Roses, a long-form narrative series told in chapters through music, events, and wearable art. As a sound curator, vibe architect, and artist, my goal is to invite others to

reflect on the lives they’ve lived—and the stories they choose to carry forward.