When Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc settled into their starting pose for their pairs free skate at the 2019 GEICO U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, they stood hand in hand, backs arched, their sleek, intricately detailed gray unitards accentuating their lithe bodies.

"We always try to keep the vision of who we are as a team, which is two pillars of strength," Cain-Gribble said. "We are two equal energies that are living, and we try to keep that within our costumes and within our performance.

"When we design costumes, we want something that we feel com­fortable with and that when we go out there that we are going to feel like warriors."

Their flawless free skate in the Motor City to music from the W.E. soundtrack demonstrated that warrior conviction, with their formfitting costumes helping to sell the program that featured a soaring triple twist and powerful lifts and throws. Their electric performance at Little Caesars Arena sewed up the team's first U.S. title and vaulted them to the World Championships.

Ever since they became partners in May 2016, the Dallas-based skaters have attempted to use their statuesque look on the ice to their advantage. Cain-Gribble, who is 5 feet 6 inches tall, is four to six inches taller than most of her pair peers. The 2012 U.S. junior silver medalist in singles and LeDuc, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall, have been able to create beautiful, seamless lines that flow across the ice and captivate an audience.

"This last time that I put the dress on, everything felt real and it was such a special moment," Cain-Gribble said in a story on the U.S. Figure Skating Fan Zone. "It was originally just a drawing on a piece of paper and then to see it on my body was truly a dream come true."

While Frey is the one who ultimately creates these signature pieces of fashion art, a small village determines the direction and look of the finished product.

Read the full story in the October issue of SKATING Magazine.