CHATHAM — Priscilla Harvey, who calls fashion her “life,” is looking to launch her own pajama line this year. If that goes well, she wants to launch a women's businesswear line.
Ambitious plans for a high school student? Sure. But Harvey said she's been aided immensely by Chatham Academy High School's full-time fashion teacher, Rosemary Shepherd.
“Ms. Rose is helping me out,” she said. “She’s been a big help.”
Shepherd sold original pieces from her shop, Rosebud’s Creations, 448 E. 75th St., for eight years until last July.
She had been teaching part time at Chatham Academy High School, 9035 S. Langley Ave. The alternative school works with students between the ages of 17 and 21. The fashion design class was introduced during the 2013-2014 school year.
But Shepherd said she was spending so much time with the students, her business began to suffer.
“Most of my clients who I dealt with on a regular basis, they knew to wait on me, but it was the walk-ins I would miss,” she said.
When the school’s principal offered her a full-time job, Shepherd accepted without hesitation.
“I realized that this was so much bigger than just teaching them my skills,” she said. “It’s to speak life, to encourage them, to show them what’s already in them.”
Shepherd is overseeing a fashion show featuring the students' work at the school on Thursday.
She said she wants the students to see that they can help shape fashion trends and don’t have to be like everyone else.
Her 30 students have been learning how to use a sewing machine, lay patterns, and sew with a needle and thread.
This has been great practice for Harvey, 18. So far, she’s made a purse with red and gold designs, a pajama piece, pink pajama pants and a poncho.
Desiree Holmes, 19, also likes the class.
“She’s a cool teacher and she keeps it real,” Holmes said. “She helps us, but she also likes for us to be independent, and I like that.”
Holmes will be making a dress for the fashion show and said if she gets really good at designing and sewing, she might pursue fashion as a career.
Other students just took the class for a credit, but quickly realized how the sewing skills are beneficial.
“I felt like being able to sew and patch up clothes would be a good skill for my future,” said 19-year-old Malik Bates. “This is something I can use in the future.”
The Chatham resident said he thought the class would be a easier than it is, but he likes the challenge.
“It’s a little harder than I expected, but it’s worth it overall,” Bates said.
Shepherd has bigger plans. She wants to ultimately bring a design school to the community, one that she said will be affordable.
“I know I’m here to speak life,” she said. “Those eight years [in the shop], I call it a training ground for the bigger.”
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
