Caity Briare is set to attend fashion school for the first time in New York City at Parsons School of Design this fall. Growing up, Briare always struggled to find trend-forward clothing that fit her smaller body–Briare is a little person—so she began cutting and altering clothing she bought at fashion stores. Looking back now, she realizes now that she was a fashion designer before she recognized it herself.
This called for careful planning through every step, from advertising the program to finding mentors like Philip and Sky Cubacub, founder of Rebirth Garments, a brand making gender non-conforming wearables and accessories for queer and trans disabled folks of all sizes and ages. “I’m excited to be a mentor,” Cubacub says.