The Fashion Squad School: Empowering Kids One Stitch at a Time
Left: Layan Aguilar at the Fashion Squad School // Photo courtesy of the New York Post Right: The Fashion Squad School // Photo courtesy of the Fashion Squad School
While you may already be familiar with Layana Aguilar as a contestant on Project Runway and for her eponymous label, the Brazilian-born designer is now also making a name for herself as the founder of the Fashion Squad School. Born out of a desire to merge her two passions—children and fashion—the school is based in Tribeca, New York City, and teaches children as young as four to cultivate their artistic skills and nurture their creative self-expression.
Layana developed a love for fashion at a young age, venturing into her mother’s closet and cutting everything up, often causing much grief by ruining handmade dresses with sentimental value. She went on to study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), earning internships at elite fashion houses such as Oscar de la Renta, where she continued to hone her couture skills. In 2013, she launched her eponymous label before being selected to compete in Project Runway season 11 and Project Runway All Stars. Project Runway provided Layana several new career opportunities, including designing a gown for Disney’s first Latina princess, “Elena of Avalor.”
Left: Billy Porter styled in Layana Aguilar // Photo courtesy of Attitude Magazine
Right: Layana Aguilar SS21 // Photo courtesy of Fashion Week Daily and Layana Aguilar
Layana Aguilar Womenswear creates made-to-order, one of a kind pieces, and has been featured in publications such as Paper and Attitude Magazine, where fashion icon Billy Porter is styled in one of her pieces.
Coining the expression, ‘I dream it, I sew it, I wear it’, the Fashion Squad School offers a variety of programs, from fashion design to art classes. Children learn illustration, sketching, selecting fabrics, sewing, styling, working with recycled materials, and more. Throughout these programs, children explore various artistic mediums and learn to communicate visually. As Layana sees it, the Fashion Squad School is building students’ confidence “one stitch at a time” (Fashion Week Daily). The classes are empowering and transformative, encouraging imagination, innovation, thinking outside the box, while also offering a therapeutic outlet.
Inside the Fashion Squad School // Photo courtesy of the Tribeca Citizen
With her positive attitude, it's no wonder Layana has garnered a large social media following. Her Instagram page is filled with inspiring OOTD videos that teach useful tips and tricks for styling outfits, such as transforming two pieces into dresses or jumpsuits on the spot with the help of safety pins and accessories. Recently, the New York Post featured Layana for videos where she transforms random people’s coats into one-of-a-kind masterpieces.
Layan Aguilar // Photo courtesy of the New York Post
On her Instagram, Layana emphasizes that fashion design and her creations are about more than just fabric and thread—they represent resilience and ingenuity. “Each stitch is a step toward making dreams come true, and each creation a testament to the boundless potential within us all.” The Fashion Squad School embodies this philosophy, empowering kids one stitch at a time and teaching them valuable skills that will equip them for a future filled with passion and self-expression.
Article by Romi Bachar, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Bradley Duley, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine
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