We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Suze Velv Genereux a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Suze, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is there a lesson you learned in school that’s stuck with you and has meaningfully impacted your journey?

The most Important and impactful school and life lessons I learned, was while I was away at Stoneleigh-Burnham School, in the early 1980’s. It was there, at age 16 that I started my fashion entrepreneurial ambitions at “SBS” an all-girl’s prep boarding school located in Greenfield, MA.

While at SBS, I learned the power of art, fashion and connection to community. I was able to take amazing classes that were definitely not offered at my former public school; like AP academics and art classes and also multiple different dance disciplines for my sport gym credit. SBS was a very nurturing place for me, allowing me to be free in expressing myself, knowing I had the support & encouragement of many of my mentors, teachers and house parents.

Having teachers that cared about me and my art was very important and impactful to me. My teachers there were strong supportive community and inspiring mentors to me. As students, we saw them outside of classes in our everyday boarding dorm life, like a family, on a small tight knit campus in western mass. The teachers at SBS helped me look beyond myself, to learn and look at the world differently with participating in a nurturing community. They instilled a strong sense of Social Justice and responsibility for us as individuals, to be impactful and thoughtful citizens in a community. Such as encouraging us to learn about history, religions and different cultures of the world, to be a better person. That our talent and voices matter and to use them and most importantly share our voices and talents.

Great individuals make great communities and one individual at SBS stood out, her name was Barb Edson, the school nurse. She was extremely helpful in starting my fashion business. She invested her time with steady encouragement, giving me inspiration and confidence and she was also my first paying customer of my custom wearable art.

Initially, as teenagers do, I was experimenting with my self-expression through the clothes I wore. I was re-styling my clothing by hand painting custom designs on my t-shirts, jeans, boots, jean & leather jackets and re-dyeing faded blue jeans. I would shop at local thrift stores to up-cycle garments into one of a kind creations. We also had a dress code, which I enjoyed pushing the envelope of what was acceptable for me to wear to class. And I pushed it, to test what I could wear without being sent back to my dorm to change. Nevertheless, I was sent back quite a few times.

At one point I had to debate with the teachers and headmaster on whether or not my re-dyed blue jeans were against our dress code so as not to be sent back to change. I won this debate, I was allowed to go to class in re-dyed blue jeans. I won on this fact, on color, that they technically were not blue anymore. That the dress code said no blue jeans but omitted other colors.

Since, I was allowed to get away with wearing my re-dyed blue jeans to class, other classmates wanted to wear their jeans, so I offered to re-dye theirs as well. I dyed my classmate’s jeans into bright colors- from hot pink, neon green, orange, purple and red. We had gotten around the “no jeans rule” this way. So I began making and selling my custom fashion designs to my classmates and teachers.

Of course this was many years ago and my interests and abilities have expanded and evolved since then. But I have to give Stoneleigh-Burnham School credit for supporting me and my art and helping to lay the foundation for the career I have today.

Being immersed in the very small and supportive close knit community at SBS as a teenager was so important and impactful because of the special individuals there that helped me. Learning and living in this environment, showed me how important community is and how we as individuals can use our talents and voices to make the world better. I have continued to stay in contact with the school and with many of my favorite teachers, house parents and alumnae. I was part of the Alumnae Board for over 10 years and am currently now on The Leadership Council. I love going back for these meetings especially reunion weekend in the beginning of the summer. Please see photo of me at reunion 2023 with another alum wearing my designs.

Alt text: Photo of 2 women, me in hot pink pleated dress at reunion in June 2023 with another alum wearing teal pleated dress, we are both wearing my designs.
(photo credit: Robert Fontaine)

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a fashion-costume designer SUZE GX DESIGNS and am currently living just outside of Boston, MA with my husband Jeff, my biggest supporter and our 2 rescue dogs. I design & create one of a kind costumes and fashion designs for performers, activists, people and pets. I frequently travel to NYC to design for performers. My clients are both here in Massachusetts and in New York as well as in other cities in the USA. My one of a kind 3D wearable art pieces are custom fit and made to order. I also design and make a RTW, Ready To Wear lines of pet accessories as well as custom pet designs. Which we sell in our pet boutique on Cape Cod.

*Alt text: #2- My black chihuahua MISS KITTY in a custom designed catsuit for her. Photo Credit: Jeff Genereux *

Helping and making people happy has always motivated me by creating something special for them to wear. My first ever wearable design was made when I was 5-6 years old. It was made for my childhood pet poodle Pixie, who was very cold after she was freshly groomed. I made her a Faux fur leopard print cape with a black boa trim, she loved it. Pixie was now warm and pranced around showing off her new cape. I was inspired, I went on to designing clothes for my Barbie and Dawn Dolls and had fashion shows with them. Besides making a lot of art as a child, I also did a lot of dance classes and recitals . Which in turn inspired me to really love live stage performances, sets and costumes.

Alt text: me wearing another design of mine in hot pink and orange and sitting next to Michael Fontana in NYC AUG/ 2023.*
#3- photo credit: Jed Ryan*

I especially love designing costumes for live theater and creating wild press pieces for runway shows and drag queen performers. The magic of live performance, art and fashion is simply amazing. For decades I have been designing for many performers and drag queens on the east coast, especially in NYC. One of my favorite performers to dress is Eileen Dover, I have been dressing her since the late 1990’s, first in Boston and now NYC. To be able to help someone else set the mood & stage for their dream performance with a specially made custom one of a kind costume is truly very magical to me. Here is a picture of Eileen Dover wearing one of my special designs for her recently in NYC.

* Alt text, photo of performer Eileen Dover sitting on a stool in one of my designs of a black fringe dress in NYC. *
* #4 – Photo Credit: Jed Ryan *

Here is also another example of a magical stage moment with a special one of a kind costume created exclusively for the Iconic Ike Avelli, it is giant Birthday Cake costume. This costume fully lights up it is rainbow and blues colors, with a matching cake top head piece. Worn in NYC at “ 50 Shades of Gay”.

Alt text performer Ike Avelli in a blue one of a kind Birthday costume that lights up.*
#5 – Photo Credit: Dorthy Bishop *

As a designer and an environmentalist/ animal lover, I feel compelled to create and produce differently, compared to the usual fashion industry of excess waste, exploitation and pollution. I try to maintain zero or low waste production in my studio by making one of a kind pieces and also creating limited editions with very small production lines. Most of items I create are made when ordered. Much of my earlier work was up-cycling clothing and decorating vintage clothing to sell. My hope is that by creating specialized custom design and fit, one person or dog at a time, I will encourage more people to buy differently and re-think what hangs in their closets.

Alt text photo of model Rodin Shaw Cole wearing a recycled zero waste sweater
#6- Photo credit: Jeff Genereux

My RTW lines that I design, manufacture and sell are limited editions of accessories for people and pets. Doing smaller and limited production lines are also kinder to Mother Earth. These include designer prints for items I sew like dog bandanas, bows, bow ties, scarves, headbands, dog collars, harness vests, coats and catsuits. These particular lines are sold at our pet boutique, Uptown Dog Cape Cod, in West Falmouth, MA. Many of my limited branding editions I have created have also been used for fund raising for various non-profits. I also am able to design and sew a very custom one of a kind print for people or projects that helps bring around brand awareness or as a fund raiser.

My art education as a child in the 70’s, was fueled with many amazing after school art classes with Anne V Cuneo, who is still a huge support to me. Then, I went away to a prep high school that offered a lot of different art and dance classes, SBS, in Western MA with many inspiring and supportive teachers. I then went on to a few other different art and fashion colleges. Taking a break from schooling, to work in the fashion design industry in Boston. I was freelance designing window displays for stores and also working for another fashion designer Geoffrey B Small, who introduced me to the magical energy of a live fashion show and the fashion industry in Boston & Paris. I created crazy over the top press pieces for his runway and shows and also activewear. I later graduated in 2011 from Mass College of Art in Boston, MA, inspired by studying with my favorite professors there, for liberal arts, Joshua Cohen and David Nolta and in 3D studios, Charles Stigliano, Deb Todd Wheeler and Janet Kawada, all the while continuing to make special custom designs for store displays, performers, people and pets.

Art and fashion design has always been very important to me along with trying to express myself and support causes I believe in that help make a better world. Even as a small child making art and making people happy or aware of an injustice has always been super important. It just really inspires me to make more art and to reach out to other artists, activists and performers.

Alt text: #7 – photo of my husband and I, outside in my designs in Paris .*
Photo Credit Rodin Shaw Cole*

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had to pivot what and how I did business during the Covid lockdown, like many of us. Since we were in lockdown and not allowed to meet in person for fittings and live shows, many theaters and shows were also closed and cancelled. So I put my custom design fashion and costume business on hold and started making PPE. I was insanely busy making PPE and masks to help keep people safe and help keep my business afloat. I was also able to use my talent and supplies to donate and help raise money for multiple non-profits. We were able to help a lot of people stay safe during this time.
Also during this time, I took some online classes to further my skills. I learned how to customize fabric prints and help my clients brand themselves with a unique logo fabric print. This skill I am still using and offering to clients today to help brand.

Alt text:
Photo of my small fluffy tan dog Bongo wearing a custom designed and branded catsuit, promoting Ike Avelli’s “50 SHADES OF GAY “show
Photo Credit: Jeff Genereux

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Since I was a child , it has always been easier to express my feelings through art instead of through speaking or writing. The most rewarding part of me making art and wearable art is being able to show my heart through my artistic creations and help others with my talent and to help build better communities. Sharing and collaborating with other artists, activists, performers, people and pets to come together and create magical “moments” fuels my passion.

I really love creating custom designs, which can help someone solve a problem, such as keeping my pet poodle pixie, warm after a haircut. My first wearable piece was a one of a kind custom design and created when I was very young. It was for my childhood poodle and thus sparking my love of design that has continued today. I am currently making one of a kind fashion, costumes, catsuits and or accessories for clients, performers and pets. My one of a kind designs are made to order and created for one person or pet which can really help improve their life or performance. For an example, my design of a custom 4 legged and hooded catsuits, I created for dogs to keep them warm and snow ball free. I believe custom design can help some of my clients, especially pets live a happy and healthier life, such as for my other elder pet poodle, who was having trouble walking up the steps, and get around after a back injury. I created this for her in the 1990’s, it’s special wearable tote with straps to help her walk and gain more strength.

My clients come to me to help create for them something special that solves a problem or to help with a request to help them with their dream costume, since they can not find it already or in the size and materials they want. Such as, a made to your measurements special effects costume or catsuit/bodysuit which is also one of my specialities that I make for people or pets.

Also important to me as an environmentalist is that my work I create to be sustainable slow fashion, that one of a kind made to order designs offer. It is slow fashion which in turn is much kinder to the environment, compared to fast fashion. Since slow fashion does not cause as much damage, such as waste, pollution and exploitation of workers that many fast mass produced fashion factories do.

Alt text: male model wearing a custom made blue catsuit with recycled orange metal chicken wire vest at a fashion show in Boston. #9 Photo Credit: Jeff Genereux

What we wear whether as a performer in a costume for live stage or in everyday wear in real life tells the world a story. The power of art and fashion is in their ability to speak for us, without us saying a word. It is incredibly rewarding for me to be part of a collaborative exchange where I help others solve a problem or create a magical stage and fashion moment for them.

For me, designing and creating magic out of raw materials into something that is wearable is very rewarding. And the fact that my designs and creations help a person or a pet is very magical to me. Me being able to help the person wearing a design of mine set a mood on stage for a performance, or at a Social Justice protest or just help someone just feel more beautiful and confident is an amazing feeling. I love using my talent to show my heart, and help build better communities. Since the late 1980’s, I have been using fashion to help spread a political messages for many environmental and liberal social causes. My very first fashion show was a benefit for LGBTQ and AIDS awareness and fundraiser.

* Alt text:
2 models wearing hand painted
activist activewear white catsuit
& red dress/
#10 – photo credit: Jeff Genereux *

Right before the 2020/ Covid-pandemic shut down, while in NYC designing costumes for another event, I met creative icon Ike Avelli, the creator of “ 50 SHADES OF GAY”. I am very proud to be designing and helping make his dreams come true with my creative one of a kind over the top costumes for many of his shows. In photos here, I designed and created a recycled pool noodle head piece and matching reclaimed pool cover gown outfit. {see pool noodle and solar cover gown photo} We both love a good reveal costume, which are complicated to make, due to the fact they are two costumes in one. For his 2022 holiday show, I created a special Santa Claus reveal costume that turns into a fully lit Christmas tree. {see photo of Christmas tress costume and hat} My goal is to create happiness and help dreams come through with the right outfit/ costume or accessory. I look forward to connecting with new people and creating more art and happiness in the future.

Alt text: photo of performer
Ike Avelli, live on stage
wearing a recycled pool
noodles head piece with a
recycled pool cover gown.

photo credit: Jed Ryan
Alt text:
Photo of performer Ike Avelli in NYC wearing a fully lit X-MAS TREE gown and matching head piece costume that was originally a reveal Santa Claus costume.
Photo credit: Albert Crocus Pena

Contact Info:

• Instagram: SuzeGXDesigns and UPTOWNDOGCAPECOD
• Facebook: SuzeGXDesigns and UPTOWNDOGCAPECOD
• Linkedin: SuzeGXDesigns
• Youtube: SuzeGXDesigns
• Other: TikTok: SuzeGXDesigns

Image Credits
Photo credits PROFILE PIX Photo Credit: Gita Sawhney #1 Photo credit : Robert Fontaine #2 Photo credit : Jeff Genereux #3 Photo credit : Jed Ryan #4 Photo credit : Jed Ryan #5 Photo credit : Dorothy Bishop #6 Photo credit : Jeff Genereux #7 Photo credit : Rodin Shaw Cole #8 Photo credit : Jeff Genereux #9 Photo credit : Jeff Genereux #10 Photo credit : Jeff Genereux #11 Photo credit : Jed Ryan #12 Photo credit : Albert Crocus Peña