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Kittery native Elias Matso debuted a mini collection at New York Fashion Week in collaboration with designer Christian Cowan.

Matso's five "twisted" dresses, inspired by corsetry, were featured in Cowan's spring/summer 2026 show.

The 23-year-old designer has also created pieces for celebrities like Alicia Keys.

Matso credits his parents and local community for fostering his creative expression from a young age.

KITTERY, Maine — Elias Matso just had his first sight of New York Fashion Week .

And no, the 23-year-old didn’t just so happen to be in the city during the coveted event, nor was he standing in the back rows trying to squeeze through to catch a glimpse of the runway. Matso was backstage, not helping out as an intern, but as a designer who's watching th

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