Tucked into its own corner, Skyline’s fashion wing is the only four-year high school fashion program in Texas.
Sewing machines line open worktables and mannequins stand dressed in the latest student designs.
This year, when Skyline’s “All Dolled Up” collection hits the runway, it will showcase clothes inspired by the senior class’s favorite childhood dolls. In doing so, they are carrying forward a decades-long legacy one stitch at a time.
“I’ve always liked drawing so I thought this pathway would be a really good fit. My role is sewing the clothes and making sure everything fits well on our models,” Yadira R., a fashion design student, said.
Over 30 years ago, a need for hands-on programs was recognized and today, even the school’s principal counts himself among the fashion cluster’s original cohort.
“The real vision for the school was to have programs that reflected the needs in the community—fashion was one of them,” Joseph Pouncy, principal, said. “My experience was interesting because it opened my eyes to skills I would never have done myself, like how to put together a shirt or sew a button.”
In just two years, fashion design and marketing teacher Jennifer Stanley-Guerra brought the fashion industry into focus for her students.
“My passion is in the classroom, giving students the tools to bring their creativity to life,” she said. “I always tell my students, ‘we can style a beautiful outfit or sew a dress, but at the end of the day, we are artists.’ My challenge to them, what we always tie our projects to, is how to make a difference in our community through fashion.”
During their senior year, students produce a full-scale fashion show, taking on a variety of roles as part of a capstone experience. Seniors can choose to focus on design or step into marketing and production, collaborating to bring the show to life.
“My mother used to go to fashion school in Mexico and she used to make my own clothes,” Thalia R. said. “She taught me how to sew, so even though I don’t make designs as a model coordinator, I get to network with the designers and understand how everyone wants to express themselves.”
Skyline’s CTE fashion program exemplifies what it means to blend creativity with industry-aligned training. That preparation earned seven medals at the district Distributive Education Clubs of America competition and secured a spot at the state level.
