The Future of Fashion Education with Layana Aguilar

From Project Runway and Disney princesses to launching the Fashion Squad School: meet Layana Aguilar, the Latina designer teaching fashion to the next generation…

Bold. Colorful. Unapologetic. Feminine, with a cool edge. 

Some words that encapsulate the personal style of entrepreneur and fashion designer Layana Aguilar; a name that will sound familiar to many Project Runway’s aficionados. But, as entertaining as those drama-filled days might have been — for Layana and the rest of the world — this fashion creative’s journey didn’t start there.

It all begins in a small Brazilian town, far from the glitz and glamour. Even though she once dreamt of becoming a dancer, Layana believes that she was born to be a fashion designer. “Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved expressing myself through my clothes,” she tells me. “Growing up in a small town in Brazil I always felt like a fish out of water. Everyone wanted to look and dress the same, and secretly I always wanted to stand out. I didn’t know I could have a successful career in fashion,” she candidly admits. “Back then, if you were from a small town, you wouldn't hear of anyone making it as a fashion designer. Only when I moved from Brazil to the US, I realized I could do this for a living.”

“Even though she once dreamt of becoming a dancer, Layana believes that she was born to be a fashion designer.”

After graduating from FIT in 2010, she landed her dream internship at Oscar de La Renta. After two years, she knew what she wanted to do: launch her own business. But she also lacked the experience and money to do that. Then Project Runway happened. “One night I was having dinner with my best friend, and he told me I should audition for the show. He said: ‘You are perfect for it, I’m sure they will cast you. Everybody loves Brazilian people and the show will give you the exposure you need to start your own label.’ Then we went online and found out there was only one week left to audition. So we got to work!” 

She spent four nights sewing relentlessly to make a mini-collection, while her friends helped her build a portfolio. And the rest is reality TV history. 

“Being on the show for the first time [Season 11] was awesome! I was so young, so inexperienced; I had nothing to lose,” she recalls about the experience. “The producers loved me because I pretty much gave them what they wanted. I had no idea they were manipulating me to do that, but I have no regrets. I laughed, I cried, I argued with teammates, I gave them drama — and I gave them good fashion! The show did open a lot of amazing doors for me, and it was the beginning of my career.”

Since moving to the US, Layana has worked hard to carve out her unique space in the fashion industry, finding a hectic and creative playground in New York City. She tells me that her main inspiration are the women in her life, as well as her Brazilian heritage. 

“I think Brazilian women are very feminine and colorful. I love to combine that with my “girl warrior” style: hard and soft.” It might not come as a surprise then, that her grandmother’s embroideries helped her design the ballgowns for Disney’s first ever Latina princess, Elena of Avalor. 

“It was so wonderful to design the ballgown for the first Latina Princess,” she enthuses. “The creative team behind Elena of Avalor gave me full creative freedom and was so kind to have tuned in my creative process. I immediately wanted to make her dress red: South Americans are very passionate, loving, and strong people. Red is the color that best represents us. Then I studied a lot about the Inca civilizations, and drew a lot of inspiration from their colors and silhouettes. A combination of all those elements and my grandmother's embroideries resulted into the print you see in the dress!” 

“...her grandmother’s embroideries helped her design the ballgowns for Disney’s first ever Latina princess, Elena of Avalor.”

But, of all her many projects and accomplishments, one is particularly close to her heart. A few years ago, Layana found her life mission: teaching fashion design to children; her friends’ kids at first, and now over 150 young students. When I ask her what has been her biggest career accomplishment so far, there are no doubts in her mind: founding the Fashion Squad School. A safe place where kids can learn how to sew and trust their creative vision, under the kind and experienced eyes of Layana and her team. Experiencing maybe for the first time the joy of giving life to all the drawings and abstract ideas that existed only in their imagination.

“Before I would say: “The Fashion Squad School started by accident in my living room” But now I know for sure that it was no accident; it was my destiny to create this amazing place! I always loved children, and after becoming a mother I just wanted to make sure that all children can be happy. The best way is to nurture their creative side and encourage them to be who they want to be.” 

And it was all thanks to her child. In 2019, Layana’s son started kindergarten, and her circle of mom-friends grew. Once they found out about her background, some of them asked her to teach their kids how to sew. Soon many other moms found out — one week later, she had 10 students learning to sew in her living room. In about two months, she was teaching 60 young students. Then COVID happened. 

“After 6 months of just being able to have one private class or very small group, instead of being scared of losing so many students, we actually took a risk and saw the possibility of becoming even bigger once the pandemic was over. We knew the rent for commercial spaces had lowered significantly so we decided to rent a storefront with two floors. I remember the first year at the new space, I was so scared we would not have enough students. But I never let fear stop me.”

With more classrooms, Layana and her team were able to accommodate more students. Now, two years later, they have about 200 students every week, between their after-school program, camps, and birthday parties. One of her future goals is to have a reality show highlighting her experience starting a fashion school for children, and how she’s building an empire entirely based on love. Love and nurture. For her craft, and the creatives of tomorrow. 

“Everything I do comes from my heart and soul. I just have to feel it. I’m not a planner, I’m very disorganized, I don’t like to sketch, and to be honest, I rarely make patterns. It is just so natural to me that it feels like magic. “

credits

words — benedetta mancusi

design — karina so.