Dopamine Dresser

Kristina Elle suffered from severe depression after moving to Austin, Texas, from Singapore in 2010. But then the now 26-year-old YouTuber, who goes by the handle @cybr.grl online, discovered fashion design. She started her Candy Trap label in 2018, specializing in outrageously colorful Japanese fashions, and two years later, she moved to Chandler. That same year, her “Harajuku Forever” design won ACDC Rag’s worldwide clothing design competition. Elle continues to collaborate with the Japan-based clothing site and sells her work at events like Mesa’s Market on Main Pride. Now married with a young son, she spoke with us about the power of color and finding herself at the end of
the rainbow.

What is it about rainbows that inspires you?

When I show pictures of my rainbow-filled room, people ask me online, “Doesn’t that give you a headache?” But I feel at home being surrounded by so much color. Rainbows have meant a lot to me, and I’m glad I finally realized it. There’s a lot of symbolism and inspiration behind them. I’m pansexual, so it’s a way to be outward about my sexuality. I’m married to a man, so a lot of people assume I’m straight, but for me, the rainbows help me get in touch with who I am on the inside. Rainbows feel very comforting to me.

I’ve read you’ve struggled with depression, so I assume that the brightness and the colors are also therapeutic in a way.

There is a phrase coined recently called “dopamine…