New York Fashion Week 2025 backstage showing second season experience applying fashion school training in professional environment

MY SECOND SEASON AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

New York Fashion Week 2025 felt less like a milestone and more like a continuation when I went back for my second season.

By this point, fashion school had become part of my regular rhythm. The focus was no longer on novelty or scale, but on doing the work properly in a professional environment. NYFW 2025 wasn't about observing from the outside—it was about supporting a designer using the same skills and habits developed in the classroom. The designer I was supporting was Arielle Juliet, who was in classes with me during my days at the Fashion Institute of Florida.

Returning with Experience

Going back to New York for Fashion Week in 2025 felt familiar. The pace was fast, expectations were high, and there was very little room for error—all things that mirror what we're taught in formal training.

What had changed was my confidence in handling those conditions. I knew what to look for, where issues were most likely to arise, and how to stay focused on what mattered.

Backstage Work

Backstage work is practical and detail-driven. Garments need to be checked, adjusted, pressed, and organised in a short amount of time. Small things—closures, hems, order of looks—can quickly become problems if they're missed.

What stood out during NYFW 2025 was how closely this environment reflected the structure of fashion school. The same emphasis on sequencing and finishing, fit, and how training shapes my work applied here., just under tighter time constraints.

Applying Training in Real Time

There wasn't much room for improvisation. The work relied on preparation and repetition rather than creativity in the moment.

Knowing when not to change something was just as important as knowing how to fix it. Supporting designers meant respecting their vision—something I'd learned during my first season at NYFW. while making sure each garment was ready to perform as intended.

Moving Forward

NYFW 2025 reinforced that fashion education doesn't stop at the end of a course. The skills continue to be tested and refined in professional settings.

Being part of this process again strengthened my appreciation for careful preparation, quiet teamwork, and the value of training that holds up under pressure.

Where I Studied

The skills and techniques discussed in this article were developed during my time at the Fashion Institute of Florida. Their comprehensive curriculum in garment construction, pattern making, and professional fashion practices provided the foundation that continues to shape my work today.

Complete Series

This is the seventh and final post in a seven-part series on returning to formal fashion education:

  1. Why I Went Back to Fashion School
  2. Inside the Fashion School of Florida
  3. What Fashion School Taught Me About Construction
  4. Learning Pattern Making Changed The Way I See Clothes 
  5. How Formal Training Shapes My Work Today
  6. From the Classroom to the Runway NYFW 2024 
  7. My 2nd Season at New York Fashion Week (you are here)

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Backstage at New York Fashion Week — September 2025