The persistent whirl is accompanied by a consistent clicking as the silk and fabric runs through the sewing machine. What once were pieces of fabric, are now outfits full of color and personality.
“I like that it’s a form to express myself and it allows me to be creative,” junior Regina Castro said. “It’s also something that helps me keep my mind off things that are going on.”
Sewing and designing dresses, tops, and pants, Castro expresses herself through making clothes. Attending a fashion class in New York at National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) in the summer of 2023 ignited her passion as she hopes to pursue fashion in college.
“At first I wanted to do aerospace [engineering] as my [major] for college but I started getting more into fashion and thinking of the way I dress,” Castro said. “One of the main things that made me decide I wanted to do something in fashion design was that my grandma used to do this too. She used to make dresses and she had a boutique when we were in Mexico. I think it was because of how passionate she was and how she could express herself with [fashion] so I really admire that she kept going with it.”
Castro learned how to sew from her great aunt when she was young and since then, the rest was history.
“My great aunt taught me the basics when I was little since my grandmother was sick,” Castro said. “My mother taught me the more difficult things when I started getting older.”
She makes dresses for different events; one being her favorite dress she made for Homecoming.
“One of my favorite pieces was my Homecoming dress that I made this year,” Castro said. “My favorite thing was the puff sleeves, it took a couple of [tries] but it ended up looking really good.”
Castro and her friend, Sophia Walls both enjoy fashion design and have been inspired by each other’s designs.
“She inspired me to think more about different fabrics and how things could be telling a story,” Walls said. “While I have inspired her to think out of the box and [do] more than what you see.”
Taught by Elena Montrey at the NSLC, Castros’ knowledge of fashion surpassed those of her peers.
“I was notably impressed by her initial comprehension of industry operations upon entering the class,” Monterey said. “She demonstrated adept knowledge of trends, fabrics, and the color wheel, surpassing the baseline understanding observed in my other students.”
Monterey provided constructive feedback and advice for Castro, telling her what areas of fashion design she could improve upon.
“A piece of advice for her [would be] to consider the manner in which various fabric types influence the drape and form of specific garments,” Monterey said. “Moreover, it is advisable for her not only to concentrate on fabrics but also to recognize the significance of styling elements. As the cohesive arrangement of components can significantly impact the overall success or failure of an outfit.”
Monterey believes that Castro has great potential to pursue fashion as a career given her skills and passion for the field.
“I have strong confidence in her potential to pursue a career in this field, given her unique perspective that sets her apart from others,” Monterey said. “Her creativity and passion for the fashion industry will undoubtedly propel her to achieve remarkable feats, allowing her to craft wonderful creations and collections.”
