North Allegheny student Sidney Rice stitches sustainability and imagination into a fast-rising future in fashion.
Cupcake Liners toCouture
North Allegheny student Sidney Rice stitches sustainability and imagination into a fast-rising future in fashion.
By Nicole Tafe
t just 17, Sidney Rice is redefining what fashion can be— and where it can come from. A lifelong Pittsburgher, Sidney, a junior at North Allegheny Senior High School, recently earned national recognition as a 2026 YoungArts Award winner in fashion design.
Sidney’ s journey began early— with thread, a needle, and creativity.“ My mom taught me to sew when I was 6,” she says.“ All my life, she’ s been the most creative person I know. My house has always been full of paper-mache, paint sets and sewing machines.” That early encouragement laid the foundation for a passion that quickly became something more serious for Sidney.
After learning at home, Sidney expanded her skills through sewing camps and classes at Cut & Sew Studio in Morningside, where owner and instructor Catherine Batcho helped nurture her growing talent. Years later, Sidney has come full circle— now teaching classes at the very studio where she once learned the basics.
“ I learned so much during my time there, and it helped grow my love for fashion,” she says.“ It feels surreal to now be teaching others in that same space.”
Sidney found out she had been selected as a YoungArts winner while she was sitting in class one day.“ I was mostly honored and excited to be recognized at the national level,” she says— reacting modestly to an achievement that places her among the country’ s most promising young artists.
Her winning portfolio included 10 images showcasing both technical skill and conceptual depth. Three of the pieces were created entirely from repurposed materials, a defining feature of Sidney’ s work.
One of those— a replica of Alice’ s blue dress from“ Alice in Wonderland”— was constructed from dyed book pages for the Northland Library’ s annual gala. Another bookbased gown followed. This time, a dramatic ball gown with a corseted bodice and ruffled skirt.
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