By Ellie S. (11th Grade) & Yujia F. (12th Grade)
Yujia is our EIC and has been the center of building the famous yearly Jr. Fashion Show at Santa Clara Art & Wine Festival, lets hear how she started.
1. Where did the spark for the Fashion Show actually begin?
Yujia: It’s surreal to look back, but the seed was planted way back in 9th grade. I was obsessed with fashion design, and Ellie was deeply into sustainability. I reached out to the city to pitch our vision and officially asked for a spot at the festival. This turned into the official Jr. Fashion Show at Santa Clara Art & Wine. We started to organize workshops and the community rallied behind us and made it happen.
2. How does that “workshop-to-runway” pipeline work?
Yujia: Once the date of the festival was determined for the fall, we started to plan and organize these workshops in the later summer to bring students together to design either T-shirts or any fashion pieces they would like with recycled textiles. We aren’t just designing, drawing or sewing; we’re problem-solving. By the time we hit the stage, the young kids and students know the environmental ‘why’ behind their garment. In the later years, we mentored younger students to organize and lead these workshops. The audience isn’t just seeing a show—they’re seeing a demonstration of what’s possible when youth lead the recycle and upcycle economy.
3. The festival is famous for its crowds, tell us about a memorable moment.
Yujia: My favorite part was when kids were standing on the sidelines of the festival—total strangers—who saw the energy and just wanted in. We’d recruit them right there on the spot, let them pick a T-shirt, and show them how to walk. It’s about inclusivity. If we can turn a spectator into a sustainability advocate in five minutes, we’re doing our job. It grows the movement one person at a time, making the festival feel like a giant, open-source community project.”
4. When some of the artists couldn’t attend, how did the team handle that?
Yujia: Student schedules are not predictable, school work, family stuff, sports. When artists couldn’t make the actual show, but still want to show their work. Their friends and community volunteers stepped up to model the pieces for them. It was this beautiful,these were the moments where the community carried the artist’s message across the finish line. That is community resilience. It proved that the mission of the Jr. Fashion Show was way bigger than any one individual; it’s a collective voice that ensures the message of a Greener’ future never stops moving.”
Closing Thoughts
Yujia: Don’t wait until you’re an ‘expert’ to start. Ellie and I were just 13-14 when we started to think about this. Your age isn’t a barrier—it’s your superpower. Build the bridge, invite people to walk it with you, and start to recruit your successors and get them involved early.
