H a’Sena Kurtic, Dixie Hollins High junior
Designs and re-creates clothing

Uniqueness and style, that’s what drives me. My inspiration, mainly, is to be different. I don’t want to be basic; I don’t want to be like everybody else. I think the way you present yourself is who you are, and that’s how people will interpret you. That’s what drives me to give off the “unique” vibe. My main message is that everyone can be different. To be who you are and to be accepted, because for me, the way I dress is who I am.  

A trash bag is like a square, but if you cut it up and move it around it becomes a dress. With this design, I was trying to convey the message to recycle and also that just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it will look nice.

If I don’t do something with hair or cosmetology, I would like to be a fashion designer. Last year, I was in charge of a fashion show. I designed and made all the outfits, which were out of recyclable materials, including grocery bags, trash bags, caution tape, birthday balloons and newspapers. I lined up the models for the show, which was watched by teachers, students, families and local business people.

If not a designer, I want to be somebody’s stylist, or maybe even one of those consultants that people come up to in a store. I want to be able to tell them, “Hey, that looks good,” and give people that little boost of confidence.

If I had unlimited money, I would buy something simple, not too crazy, that I could add more stuff to  . Where I’m from, Bosnia, not a lot of people are rich. You can’t buy everything that you like, so you create it.

As told to Alian Collazo, Dixie Hollins High School