My name is Jade.

What’s your story, how did you get here as a creative?

I have a passion for fashion, creativity, and self-expression. Fashion has always been part of my life. Even as a child, I was fascinated by clothing and how what we wear can communicate who we are without saying a single word.

Over the years, my perspective has grown by traveling to different places, all over the world (like Spain, the Dominican Republic, Italy, France, Africa, and all over the US). Seeing different cultures, traditions, and styles opened my eyes to how fashion can tell stories that reflects individuality.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to create for myself, rather than for other people’s expectations. Confidence comes from embracing who you are instead of trying to fit into someone else’s idea of who you should be. That mindset has allowed me to become more creative and more willing to express myself through fashion.

In addition to my interest in fashion, I own a hair brand called OpalHairStudios.co, where I’ve learned that beauty, fashion, and creativity all work together to help people feel confident.

What’s your creative mission as a designer, and for the NYC Rambler Summer Program?

My mission as a designer is to create clothing that helps people feel confident, comfortable, and unapologetically themselves. Fashion has done more than change the way I dress—it has changed the way I see myself. It has given me confidence and allowed me to express parts of my personality that words sometimes can’t.

My goal is to create designs that give others that same feeling. At the Ramblers Program, I hope to expand my creativity, strengthen my technical skills, and continue developing a design perspective that is both meaningful and authentic.

I want my work to tell stories, celebrate individuality, and remind people that fashion is a form of self-expression rather than something we use to fit in.