New Zama MHS club a place for students to share passion for fashion

Since I was a little girl, I have always loved fashion. In fact, I was awarded the best fashion style for my class several times since elementary school. For me, fashion is an expression of art, and I wanted to learn more about how the fashion industry works.

This past summer I attended a summer fashion program at Istituto Marangoni, a fashion school in Miami. The experience was incredible and confirmed to me that fashion is the career I want to pursue.

After my summer program, I started applying to colleges and institutions and I noticed that I was not as competitive as other students in the States. Many of them had access to fashion clubs, design classes, or fashion camps that we don’t have available at my school.

So, I took the initiative and decided to create the opportunity myself. That idea turned into Studio Couture, Zama High School’s fashion club.

I shared my vision and proposal for the club with Principal Mr. James Rippard in December 2024, but it wasn’t until August 2025 that I followed up, took action, and officially started the club.

“I was excited to approve the fashion club because it reflects exactly what we want for our students: creativity, student voice, and opportunities to explore passions that may not always fit into a traditional academic box,” Principal Rippard said.

I also asked what he hopes students gain from participating in creative clubs like Studio Couture, and he said, “I want students to leave with confidence, teamwork skills, and a stronger sense of who they are. Creative clubs aren’t just about making something beautiful, they teach students to share ideas, solve problems together, and lift each other up. These experiences spark leadership, resilience, and pride lessons that stick far beyond high school.”

After we got the approval, my mom, Dr.Yeritza Padin, a Spanish teacher at the school, became the faculty sponsor of Studio Couture.

“I agreed to sponsor Studio Couture because I could see the students’ passion and drive for a creative space,” Dr. Padin said. “Fashion gives students a way to express themselves while also learning skills they can use beyond high school.”

As the founder and creative director, I was able to apply what I learned at the summer program and from my dual enrollment fashion courses through Central Michigan University to plan club activities. The goal is not just to design clothing, but to give students a space to be creative and explore their interest in fashion.

As of our first meeting in September 2025, Studio Couture now has 14 student members including 6 board members. The members meet every 2 weeks and work on mood boards, fashion sketches and design concepts.

Studio Couture also has several planned projects that we hope we can complete during the second semester and showcase at the school. There aren’t many opportunities for students like me to express ourselves and design styles, so this is a great way to bring students who share the same passion for fashion together.

The hope is that even after I graduate, Studio Couture keeps growing so other students with the same interests can explore fashion and design, too.

Through fun and creative projects, we want to inspire more students to join. To be part of the club, all you have to do is be a ZMHS high school student and come to our next meeting. We’d love to see you there!

I am not sure if there is another Department of Defense school with a fashion club, but starting Studio Couture has helped build a creative community at our school. I am excited to see how it continues to grow.

Yerianys is a senior at Zama Middle High School who enjoys staying involved in both academics and extracurriculars. She’s currently taking fashion dual enrollment courses to prepare for a future career in fashion and recently started a fashion club to share her creativity and ideas with other students.