Colorful strips of fabric, scattered magazine cut-outs of different clothing pieces, and sewing threads laid out on the floor might not be a typical scene in the lives of many high school students. But for Zeniya Soro, this is her life. Looking through her bright red frames, Soro doesn’t just look at clothing as something to put on and take off, but as a piece of art—as something which must be perfected.

Soro, an NHS senior, spends her free time practicing her craft of creating and modifying clothes for herself and others. She uses thrifting and creating clothes to express her personal style and creativity. 

Soro said, “I think I have a lot to say and mostly express it through my art.”             

She has been interested in fashion from a young age. Her exploration of fashion has been influenced by streetwear.

“I used to be super interested in streetwear which is something that still gives a ton of inspiration,” Soro said.

Yet, it’s not just the streetwear that you see in magazines that got her interested.

“I think what got me into fashion is admittedly being into K-pop at the time,” Soro said.

For Soro, a fun hobby changed into wanting to let the world experience her clothes. Soro explained she wants to grow more when it comes to selling her clothes.

“I’d love to be a fashion designer. I would love to get a little more popular on Depop and better at my craft,” Soro said. 

As she grows as a designer, Soro also enjoys “making-over” clothing pieces into something that would fit her current style better. 

“I modify clothing usually when something I wore before just doesn’t look great anymore,” Soro said. 

Clothing is a way for Soro to express herself and communicate her views on the world. 

“I think it kind of grants me the ability to give an alternate perspective to a lot of situations or topics,” Soro said.

Even though Soro has a lot of experience crafting her own fashion, she hasn’t been doing it very long.

“I try practicing with more fashion stuff since I’ve only been doing it for maybe a year and a half so I have a lot to learn,” Soro said. 

Soro wants to continue expanding her horizons in the business part of the fashion industry, but also artistically.

“I would love to get a little more popular on Depop and better at my craft, so not just fashion but painting/drawing, digital design, etc,” Soro said.

Soro uses fashion as a way to communicate her feelings of the world or make a statement. 

“I think what makes me unique is how I think about the world? I think I have a lot to say and I mostly express it in my art,” Soro said.