CWC Year 5 Fellows attending FIT this Summer

This summer, we are sending six talented Black high school students to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) for their pre-college program, “High School Summer Live”. Situated in the heart of New York City, FIT’s program offers 10-day courses designed for students in grades 9–12. Many FIT courses are taught by professors who are industry professionals and alumni. Their Pre-college curriculum covers Accessories Design, Fashion Design (both sewing and art-based), Fashion Business, and Portfolio Development.

Meet the outstanding CWC Fellows attending FIT this year:

CWC Year 5 Fellow AJ

AJ is an 11th grader from New York City, and fashion has always been her language of identity and imagination. Whether designing a piece or curating a look, AJ uses fashion to express who she is and who she wants to become.

Growing up in NYC has shaped AJ into a versatile and introspective artist. Surrounded by the city’s energy, she finds creativity in the world around her and is driven by a curious spirit that constantly pushes her to grow.

AJ dreams of making her mark in the fashion industry. She sees the FIT program not only as a space to sharpen her technical skills but also as an opportunity to build community, connect with like-minded peers, and expand her creative network.

This summer, AJ will bring her authenticity, passion, and desire for growth to FIT’s Summer Live, eager to share her work boldly and unapologetically.

CWC Year 5 Fellow Akwaeno

Akwaeno is a 10th grader from Texas whose love for fashion began at home. Taught to sew by her mother at a young age, she’s since created everything from shirts to bags and pillows. Now, she’s seeking formal training to take her craft to the next level.

Her art is deeply inspired by African alternative culture and Black identity. Akwaeno is driven to create work that reflects her heritage, challenges dominant narratives, and builds new spaces for expression within art and fashion.

As a true multidisciplinary creator, Akwaeno’s future goals include working in painting, fashion design, jewelry, and even music. She views the FIT program as a crucial step toward becoming the multifaceted artist she envisions.

This summer, Akwaeno will bring her cultural pride, artistic ambition, and creative resilience to FIT’s Summer Live program, ready to refine her sewing skills and embrace new challenges.

CWC Year 3 Fellow Charlotte

Charlotte is an 11th grader from New Jersey and a returning CWC Fellow. She first joined CWC in 2023, attending the Academy of Art University, and now she’s back, this time heading to FIT. She’s looking forward to building her design skills and creative confidence.

Charlotte’s love for fashion began in childhood, when she would redesign doll clothes and sew her own Halloween costumes. Her experience as a theater performer and being dressed by professional costumers sparked an appreciation for the craft and storytelling power of clothing.

She draws inspiration from her theater community—the choreography, set, and costume design motivate her to embrace her own creative range. For Charlotte, fashion is a way to merge her love for performance and visual design into something expressive.

She dreams of becoming a costume designer at a ballet company and sees FIT’s Summer Live as an essential step toward that future.

This summer, Charlotte will bring her artistic depth to FIT’s Summer Live program, ready to explore new realms of her creativity.

CWC Year 5 Fellow Jiya

Jiya is a 10th grader from New York who sees fashion as a lifelong love story. It began in kindergarten, when her crafts teacher first introduced her to sewing and embroidery. From those early hand-stitched projects to her runway debut at just 10 years old, Jiya has been designing ever since.

Over the years, she’s found creative opportunities wherever she can—designing clothes for herself, upcycling socks into doll outfits, and building full looks for her mom and sister. Her designs reflect joy, imagination, and the deep connections she holds with the people in her life.

While Jiya admires big names in fashion, her best friend fuels her boldness and vision. His originality challenges her to stay true to her voice and express it more freely through her work.

Jiya dreams of leading the business side of a fashion brand while also shaping its styling and marketing. She’s eager to grow her avant-garde design, garment construction, and entrepreneurship skills.

Now a CWC Fellow, Jiya sees the FIT Summer Live program as a chance to advance her creative journey.

CWC Year 5 Fellow Kareemah

Kareemah is an 11th grader from New Jersey, attending a high school that supports both academic honors and creative design. Her passion for fashion is grounded in self-expression and the belief that clothing can reflect culture, identity, and social change.

She draws her greatest inspiration from her mother, who has always encouraged her to pursue her interests and use art as a form of empowerment. This guidance has influenced Kareemah’s work across various creative mediums, including clothing design, sneaker customization, and painting.

Kareemah envisions a future in fashion marketing, where she collaborates with major and emerging fashion institutions to ensure their products are inclusive and representative of Black and urban culture. She is especially interested in the intersection of style, storytelling, and social impact.

During her sophomore year, Kareemah demonstrated resilience and self-motivation by balancing AP English prep with co-hosting and filming her school’s Fashion Forward series. Managing academic and creative responsibilities taught her to multitask, adapt quickly, solve problems, and lead with confidence.

At FIT’s Summer Live program, Kareemah is ready to bring her energy, leadership, and vision—committed to growing as a designer, strategist, and changemaker in the fashion world.

CWC Year 5 Fellow Saqarra

Saqarra is a 12th grader from Maryland who views fashion as both a puzzle and a playground. Whether crafting her homecoming dress or building her portfolio collection, Saqarra approaches every design challenge with curiosity, care, and a deep love for the creative process.

Saqarra views fashion as more than a finished product; it’s about problem-solving, planning, and evolving ideas. Saqarra’s inspirations are found in both the extraordinary and the everyday. A fall collection based on her hometown of Baltimore reflected her appreciation for the contrast between the city’s gray tones and the natural vibrancy of changing leaves. 

Saqarra aims to pursue a career in fashion design and hopes to sharpen her fabrication skills, sewing techniques, and portfolio development. She sees the CWC and FIT’s Summer Live program as key steps in building a competitive body of work, offering access to quality materials, mentorship from industry professionals, and the freedom to experiment with new ideas.

This summer at FIT, Saqarra will bring creativity, thoughtfulness, and purpose.

We’re a little over halfway through introducing our Fellows. Don’t miss the next spotlight as we continue to celebrate the incredible talent, creativity, and vision of our Year 5 cohort.

Stay tuned to learn more about these gifted young Black designers!