Fashion
Experiencing the Art & Design
Step into the world of fashion & sustainability
Our innovative spaces offer opportunities for hands-on experimentation and self-expression through the lens of global fashion. Mentors drawn from the multifaceted fashion industry introduce an array of skills, techniques, careers, and the art and design of creative thinking.
Interactive
Our workshops and studios are equipped with an assortment of tools and repurposed materials, offering limitless possibilities for unique combinations, styles, and designs.
Immersive
Digital and physical technology allows you to step into clothing, places, times, and stories.
Multisensory
Explore connections across industries, sounds, sights, textures.
Multicultural
From personal to cultural, local to international, we celebrate the uniqueness of past, present, and future styles.
These creative hubs enable individuals of various ages, backgrounds, and talents to connect, fostering immersive experiences that encourage participation in conversations surrounding social and environmental sustainability.
New York Pilots
Participants: Bronx public & private middle schools.
Location: The Riverdale School, Summer 2022
Industry Mentors: CMO of Marc Jacobs, VP of Sustainability at Theory, VP of Accessories at Steve Madden, Aleisha Rivera, Maria Lopez, Alex Palombo Photography
Students created unique styles then put on a fashion show with their own brand statements read as they walked the runway for their fans. Everything was produced in one week of 3-hr workshops.
Participants: Bronx private & public schools.
Location: The Riverdale School, Summer 2022
Industry Mentors: Alex Palombo Photography
Fashion photography mentor, Alex Palombo, introduced the field of photography while capturing their creativity and unique stances, styles, and selves.
Participants: Intergenerational community residents
Location: SI Library, Summer 2023
Mentors: Expert quilter & seamstress
A morning library pop-up in conjunction with a clothing swap led to the creation of a bag, cape, and customized repurposed shirts.
Participants: South Bronx charter middle schools.
Location: Bronxlandia, Fall 2022
Mentors: Aleisha Rivera & Majora Carter
Tweens from Hunt’s Point charter schools crafted and presented their unique styles on the stage of the cultural institution Bronxlandia.
Participants: Prep for Prep, High Schoolers
Location: Manhattan, Summer 2023
Industry Mentors: Aleisha Rivera, Maria Lopez, Kadeem Fyffe
Three sessions over 3-weeks enabled redesigning, upcycling, creating, and sewing. The group learned how to sketch, drape, sew, and write their own brand statements for a culminating fashion show.
Participants: Bronx public & private schools.
Location: The Riverdale School, Spring 2023
Mentors: VP of Handbags at Steve Madden & Designer from Betsy Johnson & Brian Swift
A 2-day workshop where students measured, cut, draped, sewed, and designed unique bags, hats, and clothing.
Participants: Bronx private & public schools.
Location: The Riverdale School, Spring 2023
Industry Mentors: VP of Steve Madden & Delta Galil
At a 1-day accessories-themed workshop. One student had just arrived from the southern border. She shared how her designs featured the colors of the American flag to show her appreciation and excitement for being here now.
“Fashion gives me a voice without having to say anything.”
— NYC Teen
“It’s amazing how fast the tweens could learn the tools and create something in a day.”
— Mentor & Chief Merchandising Officer
“And to think I couldn’t sew this morning!”
— NYC Teen
“I feel like I learned something that I can use in life, and I feel excited.”
— Bronx Teen
“Middle school is an especially crucial time to introduce themes that allow for exploring identity, skills, careers, and sense of purpose.”
— Lizzy Martin, Founder
IMPACT
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Fashion is the freedom to express what I'm feeling or what I want others to know about me.
NYC Teen
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I have nothing like this. It's all just sports. I think this was made for me.
NYC Teen
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Giving people a program like this could enrich the community greatly. The Bronx/Harlem needs programs like this that are fun, shows something new that they haven't done before, and helps families bond with one another through hobbies. There aren't many like that.
Aleisha - Bronx Fashion Designer & Sewing Teacher
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Spaces like this could help bring families together offering a time for them to do something together (outside o fsomething like homework/having dinner). Hobbies are disappearing - kids are on their phones or watching tv a lot.
Parent
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People can begin to look at things they have in their home in a new way instead of them going to waste when someone is done with them.
Sewing Teacher
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This could inspire a new generation to help with our sustainability in fashion crisis. We can all take up household sewing again... bring back generational mending as well as inspire the youth to care more about the planet. It would helpful with not only creating less waste but also with responsible spending, and overall creativity within the community.
Fashion Mentor
The Fashion Creativity Lab
A community space offering…
Daily Workshops
Innovative programs with diverse mentors, using tools and materials to ideate, experiment, create, and design unique styles.
Presentations & Shows
Exhibition installations, interactive components, runway shows, and global and local designs will be on show at rotating intervals.
Expert Evenings & Community Events
Discuss the latest trends. Explore the interconnectivity between past, present, and future. Connect cultural influences from near and far. Reflect on social equity and environmental sustainability issues.
Open Makerspace Time
Stop in to create and make alongside fellow creatives. Gain access to the tools, materials, repurposed fabrics and more.
Storefront - Tools & Fashion Designs
Find equipment and inspiration to take home after every visit. See talented designers’ work to purchase or possibly a friend’s new creation!
Resident Fashion Creatives
Watch as creative thinking and problem-solving happens within our Lab’s resident studios. Ask questions, be inspired, and learn new approaches.
Make a donation.
Help us expand our work so that new skills and passions
are more accessible to all.
Donations are tax-deductible through our
fiscal sponsor Fractured Atlas.
*The Creativity Labs is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of The Creativity Labs must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.