Black-Owned South Florida Fashion Academy Expands Private School with Sustainable Fashion & AI Curriculum
- Nile Fortner
- May 6
- 3 min read
South Florida Fashion Academy (SF/FA), a trailblazer in fashion and beauty education, is elevating its curriculum and shaping the future of fashion with the launch of a dynamic new Sustainable Fashion Design Program for middle and high school students, beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. Known for cultivating creative excellence across grades 6–12, SF/FA is now expanding its offerings to meet the growing demand for environmentally conscious and ethically responsible fashion education.
As students gear up for the highly anticipated end-of-the-year Student Runway Fashion Show and Beauty Portfolio Review on May 30th, SF/FA founder and program director Taj McGill shared her excitement for the academy’s next chapter.
“We’re committed to preparing our students not only for successful careers in fashion but also for leadership roles in transforming the industry into one that values sustainability, social equity, and ethical practices,” McGill said.
The academy’s new sustainable fashion curriculum aims to open young minds to the global impact of fast fashion, explore the promise of upcycled design, and introduce the circular economy through hands-on learning and critical thinking. McGill believes this educational track will equip students with essential tools to innovate responsibly.
“By integrating sustainability into fashion design education, we’re teaching the next generation to see fashion as a vehicle for positive change," McGill said. "This isn't just a class—it's a movement toward a greener, more ethical future.”
The Sustainable Fashion Design Program will empower students to develop upcycled clothing capsules, analyze the disposable fashion culture, and study the moral and ethical challenges facing the global fashion manufacturing industry. With real-world case studies and insights from sustainability advocates and industry speakers, students will be immersed in the evolving world of eco-conscious design.
Program highlights include:
Analyzing the ecological and cultural impact of fast fashion in the U.S. and abroad
Designing sustainable fashion capsules using recycled materials
Understanding circular economics and the principles behind a circular fashion system
Learning upcycling and recycling design techniques to reduce waste
Exploring global brands that are pioneering sustainability in fashion
Participating in exclusive guest lectures from leading sustainable fashion professionals
Earning a Certificate of Completion in Sustainable Fashion Design
The launch of this new curriculum comes at a critical moment. According to the National Institute of Health, over 92 million tons of clothing end up in landfills each year, with the U.S. alone contributing 11.3 million tons annually. That’s approximately 81.5 pounds of textile waste per person. SF/FA is tackling this global crisis head-on by educating young designers about waste reduction and sustainable innovation from the classroom to the catwalk.
“Our students will not only learn how to design clothes—they’ll understand how to design change,” McGill added. “This program puts them ahead in an increasingly competitive and conscious fashion industry.”
This forward-thinking curriculum builds on recent strategic growth at SF/FA, including its partnership with St. Thomas University. This collaboration grants high school students access to a collegiate dual-enrollment program, where they can learn from experienced STU fashion design professors and earn college credits while still in high school.
McGill emphasized the importance of these initiatives: “Through our partnerships and expanded offerings, we’re giving students more than an education—we’re giving them a head start.”
SF/FA continues to stand at the intersection of innovation and education, offering a specialized curriculum that meets Florida’s academic standards while fostering creativity, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. With concentrations in fashion design, beauty and skincare, fashion merchandising, barbering, and more, SF/FA is empowering the next generation of artists, designers, and beauty professionals to succeed in a global market.
To enroll your child or learn more about South Florida Fashion Academy’s fashion and beauty programs for the 2025-2026 school year, visit www.SouthFloridaFashionAcademy.com and click the red “Enroll Now” button. You can also email questions to Info@southfloridafashionacademy.com.
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