Calling All Creators—FashionTeens 2026 Applications Available now!

Inviting Santa Cruz County students (Grades 6–12) to dream big, design bold, and join the runway!

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About FashionTeens

FashionTeens empowers Santa Cruz County middle and high school students to create bold wearable art from recycled materials—gaining confidence, mentorship, and recognition on a professional runway that celebrates creativity, sustainability, and youth voices.

About Us

Share your skills, time, or creativity—become a FashionTeens mentor or volunteer and help empower the next generation of creators across Santa Cruz County.

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Share your generosity and help youth voices shine —donate to FashionTeens Santa Cruz via PayPal at the button below.

**PLEASE INDICATE THAT YOUR DONATION IS FOR FASHIONTEENS. VENMO IS ALSO AVAILABLE -@afeparentclub

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Behind the Runway: Students Share What FashionTeens Means to Them

FashionTeens 2025 Official Runway Production

FashionTeens Santa Cruz 2025 show

  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student runway look inspired by ocean awareness, designed as a jellyfish with a large hat decorated with hanging cans and trash to highlight pollution and sustainability
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student model wearing a gown made from 20 pairs of thrifted denim jeans, inspired by Marie Antoinette, on the runway
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student wearing an upcycled satin dress with tulle and embellishments, carrying an umbrella covered in twinkle lights for a magical, ethereal runway look
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student runway design inspired by Balenciaga, featuring extra wide jeans made from upcycled denim with repurposed sweatshirts and rhinestone details
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student model showcasing an upcycled ocean-awareness design on the runway, part of a sustainable youth fashion show
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student model wearing a red feather boa and a glowing headpiece topped with a miniature light-up house. Photographed during the 2025 runway event, showcasing whimsical, conceptual student fashion.
  • Student model poses on the FashionTeens Santa Cruz 2025 runway in a dramatic handmade gown featuring a velvet bodice and cascading ombré organza layers in purple, blue, yellow, and ivory tones, showcasing artistic upcycled fashion design.
  • Three FashionTeens Santa Cruz student designers joyfully kick up their heels on the runway in handmade upcycled dresses embellished with tulle, recycled materials, and creative sparkle—showcasing fun, friendship, and sustainable fashion in motion.
  • Student designer walks the FashionTeens Santa Cruz 2025 runway in a handmade ocean-inspired gown featuring layered blue and teal tulle and a sequined bodice, evoking waves and coastal elegance.
  • Two middle school student designers walk the FashionTeens Santa Cruz 2025 runway in playful upcycled outfits featuring bottle caps, denim scraps, and repurposed embellishments, showcasing youth creativity and sustainable fashion.
  • Student model poses on the FashionTeens Santa Cruz 2025 runway wearing a retro-inspired outfit featuring a blue bubble wrap skirt and matching hat, highlighting creative reuse of materials in youth-designed sustainable fashion.
  • Teen designer walks the FashionTeens Santa Cruz 2025 runway in a bold asymmetrical black dress with a triangle cutout, accessorized with fingerless gloves, headphones, and combat boots—channeling edgy, upcycled streetwear style.
  • Two FashionTeens Santa Cruz student designers perform a playful, theatrical runway moment—one in a dramatic red ballgown and gloves, the other in a floral upcycled ensemble with a bold flower crown and ribbon wand—blending fashion, storytelling, and
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student designers celebrate at the end of the runway show—laughing, holding flowers, and clapping in colorful, upcycled creations as the audience applauds their creativity and collaboration.
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student designer walks the runway in a bold literary-inspired gown made from pages of books and paper, paired with a dramatic red and black bodice and gloves.
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student model beams on the runway in a whimsical, upcycled dress adorned with fabric flowers, rainbow striped tights, and playful accessories.
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student model smiles confidently in a dramatic black upcycled outfit with lace tights and large hand-crafted butterfly wings, capturing the spirit of transformation and creativity.
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student model dressed in a whimsical, mushroom-inspired look featuring a giant handmade mushroom cap hat, forest-toned cape, and boots — channeling nature, storytelling, and imaginative upcycled design.
  • FashionTeens Santa Cruz student designer models a sky-blue upcycled gown adorned with handmade blossoms and organic branch detailing, evoking nature and springtime renewal through wearable art.