Columbus Fashion Academy

We always tell our families that many of our young designers will not become professional fashion designers when they grow up. And that is fine! That is exactly one of the reasons that make this program so powerful. It's truly about what they will become: problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, leaders, risk-takers, people courageous enough to be fully themselves, that starts right here. On this very stage.

Tonight, fashion designer Aspen presented their collection on one of Columbus's most celebrated stages. (Congrats on graduating, Aspen!!)

The leopard-print dress showcased in this photo? It was cut into four pieces — and became two matching two-piece sets worn by a pair of 8-year-olds who absolutely owned the runway last Fall.

One dress. Two looks. Three models. Forever imprinted on their souls.

This Sunday, our young creatives take that same stage. 🐆✂️💛 Its going to be a blast.

A million dreams is all it's gonna take.

✂️ This rack. THIS RACK!

Behind every runway look is a story, and this weekend, over 50 kids ages 5–12 are bringing theirs to the CCAD stage during our Spring Show 2026. 🎉

We're talking pillowcases turned into suits. Patterns cut and sewn from scratch. Pre-loved costumes transformed with hand-glued beads and pure imagination. Hot glue, machine sewing, hand stitching, embroidering, pinning at midnight, and so much heart.

The only rule we gave them? Be yourself. Wear what you love.
And what happened? They made something they love for the runway.
Some of our youngest designers are 5 years old. Some are 12. All of them looked at a piece of fabric or a thrifted find someone else left behind and saw possibility.

That's circular fashion. That's creativity. That's what we do at Columbus Fashion Academy. 🌀
This Sunday, May 17 at the Canzani Center at CCAD, these young fashion artists take the stage. We are so excited for them (and their families to be in awe) 💛

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

I love this one Sunday a year when my kids bring me breakfast in bed. But I also love every other day, every ordinary day, when I feel the quiet, overwhelming joy of unconditional love.

That is the greatest gift children give us.

I am so thankful not only for my own kids, but for the privilege of working with kids every single day — empowering them, encouraging them, caring for them, supporting them, and serving them. It is an honor. It is a gift that keeps on giving back.

They inspire me to be better. To not give up. To keep creating a better world for all of us.

🎉✨ OUR SPRING FASHION SHOW IS ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. ✨🎉

This is not a school project. This is not a recital. This is a full creative vision brought to life by their own hands, imagination, and courage. Every stitch. Every fabric choice. Every silhouette. ALL theirs. 👏👏👏
📩 Fashion Families, check your inbox — we sent everything you need to know about show day.
🌐 Or visit us at columbusfashionacademy.com for all the details.
💬 DM us with any questions — we are here and happy to help!
See you on the runway. 🖤✨

For nearly a decade, we have used fashion to build confidence, human connection, and creative courage in young people. Done entirely through community support, word of mouth, and zero outside funding.

This summer, we are piloting our first Youth Counselor Program, with alumni back as emerging leaders. That is on top of our internship programs already in place all year round. A workforce development pipeline is alive, running full circle.

📩 If you are in our contact list, please check your inbox — a personal note from Priscila is waiting for you with all the details about what is next.

✨ 10 Founding Member seats are open. Three are already taken by graduating families. 7 remain.

Fashion Visionaire Club Founding Members get their family name on our wall, forever, and a seat at the table.

Give your gift to the next generation today 👉 talkingfashion.net/pages/support-the-mission-1

And if this resonates, please share this post. You never know whose family needs and/or wants an opportunity to support kind leaders and creative problem solvers. 🙏 This program balances it all.

There are people who walk back into your life and it feels like they never left. 💛

Yuri and I worked together years ago at Swarovski at Easton. He was excellent with people and the product. He cared for every single customer — genuine, unhurried, honest. Not to make a sale. Because that is simply who he is.

When he came to visit our studio we walked the space and caught up. And I asked:
Do you still love watches?
The smile on his face answered before he did. 🕰️

He told me his day off. Said he would be there every week to research, clean, and care for our vintage collection. And he has been — every week since. Just to give. Just to help. Just because he believes.This is simply who he is.

Then there is Angela — and her daughter Melody, who started as an student over 2 years ago and has since grew into a volunteer. They both come every single week — washing, ironing, steaming, mending, folding. Two generations. Over two years.

The most extraordinary people I have ever worked alongside are right here. Not for money. Not for recognition. They are here for the children. For the belief that the world can be better.

They give the most precious thing. The one thing none of us can make more of — their time.
Thank you Yuri. Thank you Angela. Thank you Melody.

This is what a Saturday looks like at Columbus Fashion Academy. 🌸

Scraps of fabric. Little hands. The volunteers who showed up — again — to turn waste into wonder.

Today, I want to highlight Nancy Smeltzer, Co-Founder of The Fashion Community and one of the most generous humans in our world. In prep for our Textile Flowers workshop, Nancy has been ironing scraps and making sample flowers for weeks — teaching kids that scraps are beautiful, showing that care pays off, and showing that creativity belongs to everyone.

These flowers? Made entirely from fabric scraps. Every single one is part of a fundraiser supporting our programs.

But honestly — look at these faces.
That's the real fundraiser. That's the real work.

Thank you Nancy, for giving your Saturday (and so many other days/weeks/months in the past many years) to our kids. For believing that what happens in this studio matters. It does. And you know. 💛

Extra shoutout to fabulous Melissa and Logan who also came to make magic. You are all amazing and a joy to create together!

🌸 Want to support The Fashion Community? More fabric flowers will be available in our online charity shop after our Spring Fashion Show. If your kiddo is part of the show at CCAD on May 17, you can purchase yours in the sustainable marketplace we will be hosting for you.

👉 Do you have a superstar in your organization? Tag a volunteer in your life who shows up like this. They deserve to be seen and celebrated.

In April 2024, we hosted our first Mend in Public event. But this movement's heartbeat started much earlier — born in the UK from the campaign, a response to the 2013 Rana Plaza tragedy, where over 1,200 garment workers lost their lives.
There's a moment I'll never forget.
A mother arrived early to pick up her child from Columbus Fashion Academy — expecting the usual energy, the color, the noise of kids creating. Instead, she walked into silence.
A room full of children. Still. Staring. Processing a film about the real cost of the clothes on their backs.
I choose to share the full picture of fashion with children — not just the magic, but the weight of it. They deserve to understand. They are living with the consequences of past generations' overconsumption. And they are the ones who will change it.
Dozens of events later, we're still here. Still mending. Not just fabric — but connection, awareness, and care for each other and the world.
We're so grateful to partners like Pickerington Public Library for hosting us and believing in this work. 🧡
Join us this Saturday — a few spots still left:
📍 Pickerington Main Library – Meeting Room C
📅 Saturday, April 18 | 2:00–4:00 PM
🧵 Bring something that needs love. All materials provided.
Link in the comments.
Let's mend our clothes — and our humanity — together. 🌍✨

She started in kindergarten. She is 8. She already has her own shop.

One month from today — May 7th — I'd love for you to meet Violet in person.

Violet is our 2026 Ambassador for the Agents of Change Festival, but honestly? Her story is not the exception. It's what happens when we stop treating children like passengers in their own education and start treating them like the leaders they already are.

This movement, built by the visionary Jason Blair, puts it plainly:
"When students are trusted to explore their passions and solve meaningful problems, they rise to the occasion. They become more than students — they become agents of change."

At Columbus Fashion Academy, we've believed this from day one. On May 7th, our students will be at the festival wearing their own upcycled runway designs — every piece created from scratch using only pre-loved materials. From blank page to runway, they will show Central Ohio what it looks like when education meets purpose, sustainability, and artistic freedom.

This is what we do. Not worksheets. Not standardized tests. Real learning. Real making. Real transformation.
Come hear Violet speak. Come see our students. Come meet the next generation of change-makers from across Central Ohio.

📅 May 7th | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Upper Arlington High School | 1625 Zollinger Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
🔗 Full details: https://sites.google.com/dublinschools.net/agentsofchangefestival2026/home

It’s National Volunteer Month, and we are kicking off the celebrations with a huge "thank you" to our dear volunteers: Lori, Lynn, and their amazing circle of friends! 🧵✨

Since joining us last month, this group has become a vital part of our monthly rhythm. Whether they are meticulously sorting donated fabrics or mending treasures from our archive (aka the charity shop), they ensure every piece is restored and ready to meet its next sustainable fashion lover.

Why this matters:
As a grassroots organization, we don't currently rely on outside funding. We stay powered by:

♻️ Our circular resale model.

🎓 Our youth empowerment program.

🙌 You.

Without generous volunteers like Lori and Lynn, our doors simply wouldn't be able to stay open. They don't just fix buttons; they help weave the beautiful fabric of our fashion community.

Do you love sewing, embroidering, mending, or organizing? Tag your organization or friend who might love to volunteer with us! Comment tag below 👇 or email: [email protected]

To all Volunteers out there who support all kinds of good missions out in the world, thank you for all that you do! The world is better because of your kindness and generosity! Keep giving and spreading good and love!

PBS aired our story last night. 🎬

Our after-school team watched it together in the studio — and the energy in the room was everything.

Season 13, Episode 19. "Going beyond teaching fashion." That's how PBS described us.
They got it. 🖤

Thank you to our team, educational partners, and supporters who show up and make this happen. This one is for you! I love you all!

Watch the full segment on "In the News" page of our website.