Sidney’ s personal favorite,“ Sunrise on the Runway,” pushed sustainability even further. Inspired by the Capitol fashion of the popular book and movies series“ The Hunger Games,” the goldtoned dress was made from Goodwill quilts, fake flowers and even cupcake liners.
The piece has already appeared at Ecolution Fashion Gala and Pittsburgh Fashion Week— earning multiple honors, including a Scholastic Art & Writing American Visions nomination and first place in the Carnegie Library Teen Media Awards.
“ When I create using repurposed materials, my goal is to emphasize the importance of sustainability,” says Sidney.“ The fashion industry is one of the worst for the environment, so I jump at any chance I get to promote sustainability.”
Alongside her experimental work, Sidney’ s portfolio also showcased traditional fashion construction, including two wedding gowns and a homecoming dress she designed herself. Both gowns earned first place at the state level through North Allegheny’ s FCCLA( Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter, with one lace design placing fifth nationally.
“ I hope to pursue a career in bridal and special occasion wear,” Sidney says.“ Each year, I use FCCLA to grow as a designer. The judges’ feedback really helps me identify my strengths and weaknesses.”
Sidney credits much of her artistic growth to her education and mentors within the North Allegheny School District, especially fashion teachers Megan Bailey and Elizabeth Gallagher.“ The support and opportunities they’ ve provided truly propelled my career,” she says.“ I’ ll always be incredibly grateful for them.”
As she looks toward her senior year, Sidney has her sights set on Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She hopes her YoungArts recognition will help her application stand out— and serve as encouragement that she’ s on the right path.
For other young artists considering competitions like YoungArts, her advice is simple:“ Just apply. You never know what will catch the eye of evaluators, and the feedback is really helpful. And of course, the honor of winning is encouraging to keep going.”
Her momentum continues this spring, with all-new pieces debuting at upcoming events including a collaboration exhibit at Westmoreland Art Museum in March, Ecolution on April 20, and the Northland Library Gala on April 25. n
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