Westchester Fashion Academy for Children

 Westchester Fashion Academy for Children  and the New York Fashion Academy for Children  was founded by designer and educator Denise Proctor.

Ms.Proctor a native of Westchester and a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology has designed for the fashion industry for over 20 years, taught Fashion Sketching and Design at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute and her alma mater, F.I.T.

Ms.Proctor owns and operates Denise Proctor Bridal Designs, a company that manufactures and custom designs bridal, evening,Bat Mitzvah, and prom gowns for stores and private clients.

Denise's work has appeared in Bloomingdales,Saks Fifth Avenue, Lillie Rubin, The Broadway, and the Metropolitan Opera, to name a few.She has showcased her bridal collection on Fox 5 TV and for the past seven years has had success participating in the annual Westchester Bridal Expo held at the Westchester County Center. She has had exposure in the New York Times, Essence Magazine, The Westchester Wag, Westchester Magazine, Westchester Parent Magazine, Journal News and the Pelham Post. The Pelham Art Center, located in Pelham NY. (where she has taught Fashion Sketching and Design for many years) has displayed her student's work with much acclaim!

The Westchester Fashion Academy for Children  is a love of Ms. Proctor's which began in 2000 as a result of many years of teaching fashion related classes to children of all ages. "I would lay silk on the floor of my sisters nursery and line the children up on both sides of the fabric,  ages 3-5 years old,  lay out the paints, give them smocks and brushes and tell them to have a ball! They were some of the most talented textile designers I'd ever seen, AMAZING Work! I even created a collection from that beautiful fabric!

The Westchester Magazine awarded the Westchester Fashion Academy for Children "The Best of Westchester 09", what a feat!

 The newest addition, the New York Fashion Academy for Children began in  January and is underway  with a great start! Located in the heart of midtown this newest class serves a vibrant population of young talented designers.

We look to engage these young designers in as many opportunities as possible to enhance their understanding and appreciation for this wonderful art form called "Fashion"

Who We Are

I have been fortunate enough to find others that share my enthusiasum and belief in children designing.

I have working with me Jennifer Arco who graduated from F.I.T. with a bachelors degree in merchandising and has been in the fashion industry for ten years resourcing for designers to market their lines.

Mr. Robert Broche', Owner & buyer for the Elephants Trunk Boutique, Year after year  he shares his fabulous  boutique with my eager students, and critiques their work from a buyers point of view! The Elephants Trunk is located 111 Main Street in Mt. Kisco NY. featuring up and coming designers from around the world!

Mrs. Valentina from Katrina Patterns, New York, has been working with me for at least 30 years, making production patterns and designer samples for my company as well as celebrity designers . She is presently working on Jennifer Lopez's collection.

Mr.Dino from C&J Fabrics of New York, is splendid giving the students a first hand education  of the silk process and allowing the children access to purchasing     wholesale silk .

Join us in welcoming Ms.Esther Sadowsky and Mrs.Rajni Menon to our list of exceptional talent.

Ms.Sadowsky is the owner of Charm & Whimsy a childrens interior design business located in midtown New York. Ms. Sadowsky has designed childrens clothes and has created some of the finest textiles in the industry.  She is well known in the field of design and you cannot pick up a magazine with out seeing her designs featured in some of the finest periodicals !

Rajni Menon hails from South India where she has learned many of the beautiful traditional silk fabric painting secerets of  the region.

She is currently completing her studies in Textile Design at Fashion Institute of Technology. Ms.Menon brings textile printing and hand silk painting to the table. We are very fortunate to have them sharing their expertise and talent with our young designers !

Hy  From HY Boutique~ A tiny jewel box of fun. He has buttons, bows, ribbons, jewels, embroidered pieces from around the world, flowers,rhinestones, appliques... a girls dream place !!!!

He gives all of the WFAC campers a discount on any purchases... Bring your money and have a good time !

Mood Fabrics...The infamous fabric store that the "Project Runway", designers shop