From Sketches to the Spotlight: My Journey in Fashion, Empowerment, and Giving Back

Airon Segismundo
Aug 11
2 min read

This year, I was deeply honored to be nominated for the Woman Empowerment Award—a recognition that means so much more than a trophy. It’s a testament to a journey fueled by passion, purpose, and an unwavering belief in the next generation.

Fashion has always been my language. But beyond the runways and collections, I’ve always believed that its true power lies in how it can inspire, transform, and empower. That belief is what led me to produce a Fashion Boot Camp for the youth—a space where creativity meets discipline, and dreams are stitched into reality.

At the boot camp, I taught them how to sketch, how to think like designers, and—just as importantly—how to navigate the business side of fashion. I wanted them to understand not only the art, but the industry. Their final challenge? To create their own designs and present them at MAGIC, one of the largest and most prestigious fashion trade shows in America. For many designers, MAGIC is a career milestone. For these young visionaries, it became their first step into the global stage.

But my lessons went beyond fabric and form. We explored Black fashion history, honoring trailblazers like:

Muhammad Ali – who taught us the art of believing in ourselves, even when the odds are against us.
Shirley Chisholm – who reminded us that if no one gives you a seat at the table, you bring your own.
Frederick Douglass Jr. – who showed that the tools for success are already in our hands.
Dapper Dan – a Harlem legend who proved that style is a voice and a legacy.
Elizabeth Keckley – who bought her own freedom, built a thriving dressmaking business, and designed for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, including her inauguration gown.

I told them, You come from greatness. And while my words may not fully resonate now, one day, when life tests their resolve, they will remember—and draw from—the grit, endurance, and self-belief we cultivated together.

Receiving the Entrepreneurship Empowerment Award at the I Am Beautiful empowerment luncheon was more than a personal milestone. It was a moment to celebrate not just my brand, but the incredible youth I’ve had the privilege to mentor.

My heartfelt thanks to Dr. Pastor Chloe and ANS for this recognition, and to @cocochynna for nominating me. The work continues—because fashion, at its best, is more than what we wear. It’s what we pass on.