A CONVERSATION WITH CARSON ALAN
Over the past few years, Carson Alan has made his mark in Nashville’s fashion scene with his experimental yet intentional design language. In 2019, he started Morning After the Rave (MATR)—his first cut-and-sew label that served as his introduction as a designer.
Since then, he’s turned a page and introduced CARSON ALAN—a namesake brand defined by a focused vision carried by a tight-knit team in Nashville. I caught up with Carson to talk about where he’s at creatively, and to hear more about his next collection—”A GROUNDED INCEPTION.”
CLARK: After building traction with MATR, what was the tipping point in wanting to shift to CARSON ALAN?
CARSON: MATR just wasn’t me anymore. It no longer reflected my life or my design ethos. With Carson Alan — my own name — I have the freedom to explore and create in any direction I choose. It can grow with me, no matter what I venture into.
I felt like I had outgrown MATR; there was no more room for growth. I needed a complete shift — a 180-degree transformation in my personal brand and creative expression.
Back then, I was making MATR pieces in my garage-turned-studio, and I eventually burned out. I’m an artist at heart; I want to design and create. MATR started to pull me away from that. Now, with Carson Alan, every piece is fully designed by me, down to the smallest detail. It’s a completely different level of intention and craftsmanship.
CL: Tell me about your team. Did people around you have a strong influence in your shift in creative process or was that more of a solo decision?
CAR: Both. I initiated the desire to make a change, but the group around me helped shape what Carson Alan would become. Without my team, none of this would be possible.
Carson Alan isn’t just me — it’s all of us. Yes, it’s my name, but there are six of us running the ship. Without each person, it wouldn’t stay on course.
We’re a tight-knit team, each with a distinct role. Maddy is my business strategist, Hunter is my right hand and brand therapist, Marc (my dad) serves as our CFO, Ian brings the vision to life through videography and content, and Gavin leads art direction. It’s just the six of us — Maddy, Hunter, Ian, Gavin, Marc, and me — and each of us brings something essential to the table.
CL: I’m excited to hear more about the upcoming drop, “A GROUNDED INCEPTION” and the concept behind it.
CAR: Yeah man, this was actually meant to be the first collection — but honestly, I’m glad it’s the second. We’ve gained more momentum, made more moves, and this collection truly feels beautiful. We’re splitting it into two drops: summer and fall/winter.
The story behind it is boyhood and growing up — starting with nothing and becoming somebody. It’s about finding your roots and then transcending through them.
There’s a strong presence of Japanese denim throughout, which feels deeply rooted and heritage-driven — very grounding. The indigo we chose has a subtle gray undertone that gives it a serene, timeless feel. The rest of the collection is black, so “A GROUNDED INCEPTION” is primarily deep indigo and black, embodying that sense of depth and foundation.
CL: Did you have any idea about the manufacturing process before jumping into it?
CAR: Unless you jump in and burn the boats, you’re not gonna figure it out. I didn't know how to manufacture clothes. I had no idea. We got here because we just kept grinding it out. You have this big obstacle in front of you and you figure out a way around it.
CL: With this drop, are you aiming to introduce a new message or reinforce the core identity of CARSON ALAN?
CAR: Right now, we’re focused on building a uniform for men, and eventually we’ll expand to women too. But overall, I keep my approach very free.
My design ethos is rooted in what I personally want to wear and what I want to see on a man or woman’s body. I want everything to work together seamlessly. The pieces should be able to be mixed, matched, and worn as a cohesive wardrobe. The collections should feel like they naturally belong together, allowing people to express themselves effortlessly.
CL: Who are your biggest inspirations or motivators? Both from a design standpoint and anyone else you’ve worked with or have a close relationship with?
CAR: I try to stay God-centered and avoid putting too much energy into idols, but I love being inspired and I admire all forms of art. To me, there’s no good or bad art — it’s all relative.
If I had to name someone I’d want to be most like, it would definitely be Virgil. I want to live my life the way he did. I know I’m not alone in looking up to him — our generation will keep talking about Virgil for a long time. I remember being in New York when he released a shirt for $450, and there was a line wrapped around the block. That’s real influence.
I also admire Samuel Ross from A-COLD-WALL*, The Weeknd and his journey, my dad, and the team I have around me now. They genuinely inspire me every single day.
CL: Will Carson Alan continue to be based out of Nashville for years to come?
Yeah bro. I see myself here for a good bit. But I also think about, as I continue my rise, having a place in LA or New York. I'd love to have a place in London when we move into European markets, you know, but Nashville is home.
I love this city. I think I can do something really big here, and there's a lot of people here who also want to do that—it’s very collaborative, you know. But there's nothing like what I'm trying to do in this city now. There are other brands, and there's other stuff, you know, and I'm not saying that I'm above anything. But the niche that we're in, the lane that we're trying to push, it's not here. Does that make it harder? Yes, but it’s a special place. This is home.
CL: What are some possible routes of expansion you’ve thought about?
CA: Next, we want to get into retail and expand our presence worldwide. Our goal over the next five years is to be in select retailers across the country, and eventually overseas as well. But for us, it’s never about becoming a massive, sellout brand. I don’t want our pieces randomly stocked everywhere — I want it to stay intentional and curated, never losing the meaning behind what we do.
CL: What are your takeaways from the first collection and what advice do you have for other upcoming designers?
CA: My advice to anyone designing is this: do as much as you can on your own at first. Even if you have money, people will try to take advantage of you, and no one can recreate your vision exactly — because no one else is you.
Build your team and learn to execute together. Once you’ve gained that hands-on experience and education, then you can start outsourcing or bringing in extra help. But at that point, you’ll actually know how to guide them and communicate what you need. A lot of problems come from simply not being able to clearly relay your vision.
CL: What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?
CA: I want to sell paintings all over the world, make clothes, and work on meaningful, creative projects — fashion is just one piece of that larger vision.
If I can release one or two collections a year, spend the rest of the time working on other inspiring things, and still support my family and friends, that’s the dream. I don’t want to be tied to just one lane. That’s why I paint, why I dabble in music, and why I collaborate with Ian on different projects. I’m a painter and a designer; I also do consulting and love designing for others when it makes sense.
Exclusively at Carsonalan.net