LAYANA AGUILAR H.

AKA “The Superwoman”

Layana is not only a talented fashion designer, but also a caring mother. You may recognize her from the popular TV shows Project Runway season 11 and Project Runway Allstars season 5.

Originally from Brazil, Layana came to the United States to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She then worked at famous fashion houses like Oscar de la Renta.

But Layana wanted to express herself even more. So, in 2013, she took a brave step and launched her own clothing line for women. Her designs were a mix of femininity and streetwear, celebrating the strength of modern women. Because of her unique talent, Layana was selected to compete in Project Runway Season 11.

After the show, Layana got a special opportunity from Tim Gunn, a fashion mentor, to work with Disney. They asked her to design a beautiful gown for Elena of Avalor, Disney’s very first Latin princess. Drawing inspiration from her South American heritage, Layana remembered her grandmother’s colorful mandala flowers. She included those flowers on Elena’s gown, representing the journey of finding oneself and being fulfilled.

As Layana started her own family with a son and a daughter, she found a way to combine her two biggest passions: fashion and children. That’s how “Fashion Squad” was born! Starting from her own living room, Layana built an empire based on love. She created a place where kids and young adults can learn and grow, without fear of expressing themselves. At Fashion Squad, everyone is encouraged to be happy and confident!

Layana Aguilar is not just a fashion designer, but also a role model for aspiring young designers. She proves that with passion, determination, and a little risk-taking, you can achieve your dreams. Layana’s journey is an inspiration to us all, showing that love and self-expression can build amazing things, just like Fashion Squad.

Thiessa Owens — Head of Communications

AKA “The Walking Encyclopedia”

Born and raised in Brazil, Thiessa’s path to Fashion Squad is anything but ordinary. Long before joining the world of fashion, she studied Physical Therapy and spent nearly a decade working as a therapist. After becoming a mother, she stepped away from her career to dedicate herself to raising her children—a chapter that only deepened her natural curiosity about childhood, learning, family, and the world around her.

She also happens to be Fashion Squad founder Layana’s older sister—and one of her greatest lifelong inspirations.Growing up, Thiessa and their mother were the two women Layana looked up to most. So when Layana founded Fashion Squad, bringing her sister into the adventure felt almost inevitable.

Today, as Head of Communications, Thiessa brings an entirely different kind of creativity to Fashion Squad. She has a gift for taking ideas, stories, and information and figuring out exactly how to communicate them. Curious by nature, she wants to know everything—and somehow usually does. Ask her about children, food, travel, culture, or that completely random thing you heard about once, and there’s a very good chance she already knows the answer.

She’s the team’s unofficial walking encyclopedia, endlessly researching, learning, organizing, communicating, and making connections. Behind the scenes, she helps make sure the heart and personality of Fashion Squad come through in the way we communicate with our families and community.

And while Layana may have founded Fashion Squad, Thiessa has been part of the inspiration behind it for much, much longer.

Elissa Santana- Tribeca Manager 

AKA “The Sewing Master”

Elissa is the General Manager at Fashion Squad Tribeca. She played a crucial role in starting the school alongside founder Layana Aguilar, right from the very beginning! Though Elissa is quiet, she is mighty and knows our Fashion Squad like the palm of her hand.

Born and raised in a small town in Brazil, Elissa is living her American dream! She graduated with high honors, earning a degree in Fashion Design and pattern making. But her journey goes beyond academic achievement. Elissa’s love for teaching and sharing her passion for fashion is a big part of her life.

Ever since she was just 10 years old, Elissa discovered her deep-rooted connection to Fashion Design. She already had remarkable skills, crafting her own garments with pride. Sketching, sewing, and reading quickly became her cherished hobbies, fueling her creativity and artistic expression.

What makes Elissa truly special is her adoration for teaching children. She is captivated by their rapid learning abilities and limitless imagination. Seeing the joy on her students’ faces when they wear the clothes they’ve crafted is an experience she treasures above all else.

Fashion Squad is Elissa’s cherished home—a place where she thrives, surrounded by everything she loves. Her role as “The Sewing Master” allows her to combine her fashion expertise with her passion for teaching. This fulfilling fusion brings her immense happiness and satisfaction.

Elissa is not only an exceptional General Manager but also comes up with the best new sewing projects. She is a valuable asset to our team and plays an integral part in making Fashion Squad a place where creativity and learning flourish.

Nicole Mansan-UES Manager

AKA “The UES Queen”

Nicole is the talented Manager of Fashion Squad Upper East Side, where she keeps everything running smoothly while bringing her love of fashion, sewing, and teaching into the studio every day. With her incredible organizational skills, warm personality, and infectious smile, Nicole makes sure both our students and our team feel supported, inspired, and ready to create.

Nicole’s fashion journey began when she was just 11 years old. She had her heart set on a special handbag but couldn’t find it anywhere—so, with a little guidance from her mom, she decided to make it herself! That first project sparked a lifelong love of sewing and design.

Her passion and talent eventually took her to prestigious fashion schools including FIT in New York City and Central Saint Martins in London. Growing up with parents who were both teachers also planted another seed: a love for sharing knowledge and helping others grow.

Today, Nicole brings those two worlds together at Fashion Squad. As the manager of our Upper East Side location, she oversees the studio while also sharing her sewing expertise with our students, guiding them through the creative process and encouraging them to dream big.

Whether she’s organizing the studio, supporting our teachers, helping a student master a new sewing skill, or making sure everything runs beautifully behind the scenes, Nicole is truly the Queen of the UES!

She helps make Fashion Squad a place where creativity is celebrated, confidence grows, and fashion dreams come to life.

Erin Falline-Tribeca Supervisor/Fashion & Sewing Instructor

AKA “The Upcycling Queen” 

Erin is the energetic supervisor at our Tribeca location! Born and raised in Minnesota, she truly brings the Minnesota nice attitude to everything she’s a part of.

Her knack for teaching stems from her background in tutoring and nannying since she was a teenager. Erin has always adored working with kids since she’s still a child at heart. 

While she was in college, she founded a clothing company called Self.sh that utilized embroidery and appliqué to curate funky color-based collections, including a Black and White collection that fundraised donations for women’s rights. She also participated in the Fremont Fair in Seattle, selling clothing based on the local landmarks with her own flair.

Today, she focuses her creativity on upcycling and sustainable fashion. She also loves to crochet and is usually learning a new fashion medium in her free time!

Shatani Taylor-Senior Fashion & Sewing Instructor

AKA “The Fashionista”

 

Shatani, a born and raised Harlemite with an unwavering passion for the world of fashion. As an aspiring model and fashion stylist, she continuously seeks new experiences to creatively express herself through art and fashion. With a love for teaching and an infatuation with sharing her fashion expertise, Shatani has fallen head over heels for the art of education at Fashion Squad.

Having previously served as a sewing teacher at the Lower East Side Girls Club, she has nurtured her zeal for social justice alongside her dedication to empowering others through the art of sewing. Shatani’s remarkable journey has led her to discover the joy of imparting knowledge and sharing her profound love for fashion.

During her leisure time, you’ll find Shatani passionately creating fashion video blogs on popular platforms like TikTok and YouTube, capturing the hearts of her ever-growing audience. But it doesn’t end there. She has also developed a deep admiration for K-pop, immersing herself in the energetic melodies and dynamic performances that this vibrant genre offers.

 

Shatani, a beacon of fashion-forward creativity, is a force to be reckoned with. Her contagious enthusiasm for teaching, love for fashion, and unwavering devotion to K-pop make her an exceptional asset to the Fashion Squad community.

Rosa Rios-Fashion & Sewing Instructor

AKA “The Creative Maker”

Rosa is a creative and detail-oriented fashion designer with a passion for art, fashion, and hands-on creativity. After graduating from high school, she knew she wanted to pursue her love for fashion. She studied at FIT, where she explored both fashion design and technical design while building her skills and discovering the different sides of the fashion industry.Before joining Fashion Squad, she gained hands-on experience through internships in fashion design.

These experiences helped her develop a strong eye for detail and a better understanding of the creative process, from developing ideas to bringing them to life.

Outside of fashion, Rosa loves painting and drawing, as well as crocheting and making jewelry. She enjoys working with different materials and is always finding new ways to express her creativity. She also enjoys photography. Her experience with photography has also given her an appreciation for capturing fashion, people, and creative moments through photos. She has a natural eye for detail and enjoys finding creative ways to bring an idea to life.

At Fashion Squad, one of her favorite parts of the experience is connecting with the kids and seeing how happy and proud they are of what they create. She enjoys helping them bring their ideas to life, encouraging them throughout the process, and watching their confidence grow. Organized, hardworking, and always one step ahead, Rosa brings creativity, patience, and a genuine willingness to help to everything she does.

Carolina Huerta-Fashion & Sewing Instructor

AKA “The Creative Fashionista”

Carolina is a Fashion Instructor at Fashion Squad with a background in Fashion Design and garment construction. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, she earned her degree in Fashion Design from ITESO before bringing her creativity and passion for fashion to New York.

Her experience spans different sides of the fashion world—from designing her own collections to developing garments from concept to construction, working with textiles, pattern making, sewing, and fashion illustration. Throughout her career, Carolina has always been drawn to the creative process: transforming an initial idea or sketch into something tangible and beautiful. After moving to the New York area, Carolina found a new way to experience fashion: through teaching. At Fashion Squad, she combines her professional design background with her love for creativity, helping young students discover their own personal style and learn the skills to bring their ideas to life.

One of Carolina’s favorite parts of teaching is seeing how differently each child interprets a project. She loves encouraging her students to experiment with fabrics, colors, silhouettes, embellishments, and unexpected ideas rather than simply following a formula. For her, fashion is not only about making clothes—it is a form of storytelling and self-expression. With experience in sewing, garment construction, fashion illustration, embroidery, pattern making, and creative design, Carolina enjoys guiding her students through the entire creative journey—from their first moodboard and sketch to the excitement of wearing something they made themselves. For Carolina, Fashion Squad represents the perfect intersection of two things she loves: fashion and creativity without limits. Seeing her students gain confidence in their abilities—and proudly say, “I made this!”—is what makes teaching so special to her.