Born in Louisiana, raised in Oakland, California, Marquise Foster began to explore his interest in fashion as a creative outlet to channel his artistic talents at the age of 13. In 2009, he moved to New York City to pursue his dreams and taught himself sewing, construction, and other design-related techniques/skills that he would then use to make his own clothes in his Brooklyn home. After being selected for different internships with local designers, he decided to launch his very own clothing line in his namesake. The Marquise Foster brand seeks to expand the boundaries of streetwear, formal wear, and high couture fashion, and largely focuses on menswear, gender-neutral aesthetics, and costume design with a unique integration of women’s wear.
Marquise Foster’s collections are inclusive of people who look like him, as he actively makes an effort to support underrepresented communities in the Fashion Industry. When working closely with his clients, Marquise consults with customers to create distinctive designs for those who wish to stand out and distinguish themselves from fast fashion retailers. He credits designers like Dapper Dan as being one of the sources of his inspiration to create clothing that no one else owns and to help anyone wearing his pieces stand out to the masses, while feeling confident and important. His experience with NYC Ballroom fashion has motivated him to innovate with his creativity and push his own boundaries—allowing him to create one-of-a-kind, exclusive pieces that ensure clientele satisfaction.
Having overcome significant challenges to be seen and respected as a Black designer, Marquise displayed his talents on Season 18 of Bravo’s Project Runway. His past collections have been showcased in NYC Fashion Week as an Emerging Designer (2012-2016), NYFW Runway Shows (2017/2018) and Philadelphia Fashion Week (2018), and featured in various magazines, articles, and podcast shows. He was also a Top 3 Finalist for the Out Magazine Vanguard Awards in 2017. Marquise works as a tailor, stylist, and costume designer for film and television as well. His collaborations with celebrity clientele including: Joey Badass, Mary J. Blige, Megan Fox, Dua Lipa, and Ziwe, the 2023 Super Bowl Apple halftime commercial, and shows like Uncoupled, The Ziwe Show, and Westworld (S4), are all testaments to Marquise’s belief that self-taught designers are not to be underestimated.