(upbeat music) - We're honored to be joined by Sakina Pitts, Principal of the Newark School of Fashion and Design.

Ms. Pitts, great to have you with us.

- Good morning, Steve.

Glad to be here.

- Hold on one second.

First, I need a description of the school and what's up with the Parsons logo I see behind you?

- Yeah.

So we are one of the newest high schools to the fleet of Newark Public High Schools here in this great city.

We are Newark School of Fashion and Design powered by Parsons School of Design.

And so that is the logo and branding that you see in the background, and it means so much.

You know, the superintendent had a vision to extend CTE, you know, education for students.

And so along with data science, information technology, Newark School of Fashion and Design was birthed last year.

And, you know, it feels really good that Parsons locked arms with us, you know, based on a vision and a mission.

You know, this mission of a collaborative effort between K-12 education and higher ed.

And so when we talk about being empowered by Parsons they support us with writing the fashion curriculum.

They support us with vetting our fashion teachers, summer intensive programming, bringing industry experts into the space for our students.

We are looking for dual enrollment next year, creating a pipeline into Parsons, you know, when our students graduate.

So it's been an amazing journey thus far.

- Sakina, I'm curious about this.

We've had so many, again, as a Newark native, we were talking before we got on the air, you're from the south side of the city, I'm from the northern part of the city.

Your school is based in my old neighborhood in the North Ward of Newark.

And for those of us who are connected to Brick City, to Newark, our reputation precedes us, not always in a good way.

To what degree is the work at the school, the Newark School of Fashion Design, beyond the curriculum, beyond the students, beyond creating a pipeline into the fashion industry, which is so difficult to access, how much of the mission is stated or unstated predicated on changing the perception of the Newark public schools and more importantly the young men and women in those schools?

- Yeah.

- So that's why I'm glad that, you know, I have the opportunity to speak here today as a Newark student born and bred, reared by this great city.

You know, I love any chance that I get to demystify, you know, that perception and it's all about, you know, always writing the narrative, changing the narrative.

I mean, this is Black History Month, right?

And so how fitting that, you know, we're talking about this and closing equity gaps for black and brown students.

And so, you know, all of my students are either African American or Hispanic.

And so that is always the mission, you know, there is so much greatness happening here in this city.

And so anytime we get to shine a light, you know, we look forward to doing so, Steve.

- What kind of, I'm curious about this.

The students that you attract, I don't wanna say who are they because I'm sure there's a whole range of students, but do they have a strong interest in fashion or are they searching, because you'd have to have a reason to want to go to a school of fashion design and I'm curious about that.

- Yeah, so absolutely.

We have a criteria.

You can go on our website and see it, there's an admissions process.

And so what happens is students across the city have an opportunity where enrollment fairs are happening similar to colleges and universities where juniors and seniors in high school are looking at which colleges and universities they're interested in.

The same process happens here in Newark.

So every eighth grader across the city is learning about every high school, the opportunities, what they offer, the programs, and it's very competitive.

And so for Newark School of Fashion and Design, there's a criteria.

They submit a portfolio inclusive of five works of art.

We're looking at attendance, we're looking at their artwork.

You don't have to know how to sell to come.

We're a high school, so we will teach you that, right?

But we do want to ensure that there is a vested interest of every student who is joining us.

And so we're looking forward to filling 125 seats for the upcoming freshman year.

- Ms. Pitts, take this on.

I'm looking at the last week.

We're taping in February, so when Sakina Pitts talks about Black History Month we happen to be taping on Valentine's Day.

One of us is doing the right thing wearing red, the other one's not.

So that being said, so there's an article in the New York Times, I believe in the arts section and fashion, literally the headline is "Thin is in Again."

Please talk to us.

- So again, demystifying, right?

So the model here at Newark School of Fashion and Design is Newark School of Fashion and Design where artivists create fashion with a purpose.

We are constantly teaching and modeling for our students that, you know, we do not body shame.

We are advocates for every body type, all walks of life.

And so I don't know about that.

You know, we are at a age where we are breaking into the fashion industry.

Look at entertainers like Alizzo who wore Avante-garde to the Grammys where she won, you know, artists of the year, right?

And so thin is not in, all body types are in, how about that?

And so again, demystifying these misnomers, you know, it's already hard in the fashion industry for, you know, for different populations of people, and so here at Newark School of Fashion and Design it is embedded into our curriculum and how we teach students that, you know, we love all body types and so, you know, we want to support that in the world.

- You know, fashion has always been connected, fashion design always connected to culture more so it seems like ever before.

Is that just an old guy trying to interpret the situation incorrectly?

It just seems you cannot separate fashion, culture, fashion design and culture.

- Yeah, it's everywhere.

And it's inspired by definitely, right?

And so cultural relevance matters, right?

It matters in each student feeling valued in the space, right?

And that we put educators in front of them who look like them, but that they also learn fashion history.

So our freshman students learn fashion history.

How is fashion influenced by hip hop where you might see a Misa Hylton, and shout out to the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy, that's one of our partners.

But you might see a Misa Hylton capsule collection now at the museum at FIT, right?

And how hip hop culture, you know, has inspired her, you know, throughout the years.

And Dapper Dan, right?

So again, cultural relevance definitely matters.

You know, Hispanic Heritage Month here at Newark School of Fashion and Design is a big thing.

Black History Month here at Newark School of Fashion and Design is a big thing, right?

And so, you know, these are very important aspects and you hit the nail on the head when you talk about, you know, fashion and how culture, you know, influences fashion.

- Before I let you go, your passion for fashion came from, started when?

Got a minute left.

- Yeah.

So I attended Science High School with Chief Nazario.

He's the chief of staff now of Newark Board of Education.

You know, I remember us, not together, but, you know, traveling into the East Village, you know, definitely my mom having me in Bamberger's basement, downtown Newark.

Yeah, taking you back.

- Hold on.

I was the 27 bus down to Bamberger's.

What bus was you?

- Yes, yes, exactly, right?

So I was the number 13.

The 13 down-- - The 13 went this way, the 27 went that way and it all wound up on Broad Street at "Bams," "Bams."

- Yes.

Yes, exactly.

- We didn't go at the same time, but go ahead.

- Yeah, so, you know, from young, my mom, you know, dressed me in bucks, two-toned bucks, from Buster Browns on Halsey Street and Roth's Child coats.

And so it just kind of came from there.

Definitely once I got to high school and traveling into the East Village and listening to and an avid kid fan of hip hop, right?

So Grand Puba, Girbaud's hanging baggy, Tommy Hilfiger top.

Yeah, right?

So just definitely, you know, hip hop influences.

And then just learning about top designer luxury houses and just really understanding and loving fashion history.

You know, going to the city to watch documentaries on Andre Leon Tally or Iris Apfel or Alexander McQueen.

So I really have a passion for fashion history.

- Sakina Pitts, by the way, I got the reference to Halsey Street behind Broad Street where all the shoe stores were.

- Yes.

- I'll leave that alone.

Sakina Pitts is the Principal of Newark School of Fashion Design.

I cannot thank you enough for joining us.

Well done.

Best to you and all your colleagues.

- Thank you so much, Steve.

Thank you for having me.

- You make Brick City proud.

See you next time folks.

I'm Steve Adubato.

That's the Sakina Pitts.

- [Narrator] One-On-One with Steve Adubato has been a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

Funding has been provided by The Turrell Fund, supporting Reimagine Childcare.

NJM Insurance Group.

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

And by Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Promotional support provided by NJBIZ.

And by New Jersey Globe.

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