Check out our feature on CBS Sunday Morning here!
BKLYN Fashion Academy is a 16-week intensive program establishes a launch pad for local, nascent fashion designers to channel their creative talent through a series of classes and hands-on labs which hone their skills and develop their business knowledge using BPL resources. Designers selected for the program also create a capsule collection to feature on the runway at our culminating fashion show!
Check out our 2024 BKLYN Fashion Academy!
The BKLYN Fashion Academy came back for Season 6 with a twist! Our theme for the season was Women of Future Industries: From Runway to Role Model. We took a trip to 2044 and reimagined what futuristic fashion will look like for women in industries of tomorrow
Meet our 2024 BKLYN Fashion Academy Designers! (featured on CBS Sunday Morning)
FAQs
Entrants must be 18 years of age or older, live in Brooklyn and have sewing experience.
Applications for Season 6 have closed. If you're interested in the BKLYN Fashion Academy, please email us at fashion@bklynlibrary.org
- Designers required to attend several classes, attend technical labs, mentor sessions and create a minimum of 4 looks.
- Designers also completed an illustrated drawing of their main look, and featured their completed capsule collection in the BFA Fashion Show.
The runway show for Season 6 was held on Friday, September 27, 2024.
The theme for the 2024, Season 6, was Women of Future Industries: Runway to Role Model.
2023 - Ancient Egypt: Gods of the Runway Show
Check out the YouTube Livestream - CLICK HERE
Our 5th Season's theme is Ancient Egypt: Gods of the Runway! Take a ride as we explore one of the world's oldest civilizations!
Take a look at our 2023 BKLYN Fashion Academy Designers!
Learn more about the previous seasons of BKLYN Fashion Academy:
The theme for season 4 was American Fashion through Conflict. The evolution of American fashion can give us a glimpse of American history from the frontlines. In times of conflict, we see Americans redefine themselves, whether it is holding fast to tradition or evolving to embrace new realities. From the War of 1812 to the Korean War, the BKLYN Fashion Academy designers will use American history to inspire and develop their collections emphasizing the influence of the major players of their chosen era.
Their full mini-collections were showcased at the Runway Show on Friday, June 24 on Central Library’s Outdoor Plaza. More photos to come!
Meet our 2022 BKLYN Fashion Academy Designers!
Our focus for the 2020-2021 program year was the History of Carnevale (Carnival) and its influence around the world. Carnevale which means farewell to meat or flesh originally celebrated by Europeans and passed on to slaves who turned it into a celebration of freedom. By the 18th century free blacks in Trinidad mixed with French immigrants, Spanish settlers, and British nationals transformed the European celebration to a more heterogeneous cultural froth that included traditions from all ethnic groups. With the end of slavery in 1834, the now completely free populace could outwardly celebrate their native culture and their emancipation through dress, music, and dancing hence creating what is now known as Carnival.
Photo (top left to bottom right): Carnival in Haiti, Venice, Tenerife and Rio de Janiero
Designers showcased carnival across these 10 countries and their celebrations: Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, Venice-Italy. Port of Spain-Trinidad & Tobago, Binche-Belgium, Oruro-Bolivia, Toronto-Canada, Port-au-Prince-Haiti, New Orleans-Louisiana (USA), Nice-France and the Tenerife Island-Spain's Canary Islands.
Meet our 2020-2021 BKLYN Fashion Academy Designers!
Click on their profile photos to be directed to their sites and social media pages.
The 2019 video from the On the Runway: Homage to Future Fashion Show, captures all the colors, excitement, culture and creativity the designers had to offer.
Fashion forward: Researchers, designers debut new tech on New York City runway from Microsoft Research on Youtube
Video By: Microsoft Research
To learn more about the technology used, Microsoft's partnership with the BKLYN Fashion Academy and much more check out: Fashion Forward.
Check out the 2019 show, On the Runway: Homage to Future Fashion, First Half & Second Half, in case you missed it!
Want to see the 2019 BKLYN Fashion Academy Designers?
Check them out on the Made In NY: Fashion Instagram page, where you can get a little background on each designer and see what they have to offer!
Herero Women of Namibia
Photo Credit: Refinery29
StitchKit Tech Pack
Photo Credit: StitchKit
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Women and Money: How to Make Sense of Today's Financial Markets
Learn all about today's financial markets from two women who watch it closely.
Join Financial Advisors Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone as they host The Women and Money Roundtable. This series is a virtual, monthly financial literacy program designed to educate women in all walks of…
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How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Investing 101 Series Part 2
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These Business Advisement sessions are available to existing small businesses and…
Multilingual Business Help
Start or grow your business - in your language!Brooklyn Public Library offers free, one-on-one support for multilingual entrepreneurs of all origins, backgrounds and industries. Whether you're just getting started or already running a small business, we can help…
From Plan to Plate: Market Research and Resources for Food Entrepreneurs
Learn how market research helps food entrepreneurs validate ideas, understand customers, and identify opportunities in Brooklyn’s competitive and diverse food marketplace.Successful food businesses start with understanding the market. This session explores how aspiring food entrepreneurs can use…
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NYS MWBE Program & Certification Workshop
NYS MWBE Program & Certification Workshop In this workshop you will learn about the New York State MWBE Program, the certification process and free business advisory services that guide you through the entire process to seeking certification as a NYS MWBE firm. The NYS MWBE…
Interested in BKLYN Fashion Academy?
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fashion@bklynlibrary.org
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About us
The BKLYN Fashion Academy teaches what it takes to create a viable fashion business! This intensive program provides the essentials to create and sell ready-to-wear men’s and women’s wear garments. Selected designers will receive mentoring from industry experts and attend classes on sustainability, sourcing, accessories design, market research, and more, while creating a ready-to-wear capsule collection.
The 16-week intensive establishes a launch pad for local, nascent fashion designers to channel their creative talent through a series of classes and hands-on labs which hone their skills and develop their business knowledge using BPL resources. The program works closely with numerous City agencies, educational institutions and industry partners to leverage NYC’s expertise in the fashion industry and to contribute to the growth of the sustainable fashion movement in Brooklyn.
Our Current Partners
- BK Style Foundation (BK | SF), was founded in 2004 as a platform to support creative talent. BK Style Foundation (BK|SF) lends a voice to social causes like human rights and civil liberties, HIV/AIDS awareness, poverty and community development by partnering with organizations like Denim Day NYC, which raises awareness for sexual assault and domestic violence. Art in Motion Show, Beauty for Freedom, Soles4Souls Foundation, MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, Colel Chabad and other nonprofit organizations.
- FABSCRAP, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that was created to meet New York City’s commercial textile recycling needs. Materials that traditionally would have gone to landfill are now being properly recycled and made available for reuse.
- Fashion Week Brooklyn (fw | BK), is a bi-annual international collection show founded by the 501c3 non-profit BK|Style Foundation (BK|SF). FW|BK has emerged as one of the leading fashion events showcasing the talent of aspiring and established designers from across the globe. It has been named as the number 5 international fashion event in 2016. Attendees include a diverse spectrum of socially conscious, influencers, fashion- forward and creative people nationally and internationally.
Program Donors
Have questions about becoming a partner or a donor? Please email us at
Subject Guides
The librarians from BPL's Business & Career Services have created a specialized subject guide for aspiring designers that covers industry, competitor, and consumer research in the fashion industry as well resources for marketing and PR.
Have questions about the program? Contact us at