Sidewalk Runway: Students on the Power of Creativity

On August 20th, 2025, the Student Center at North Carolina A&T radiated with energy—not just from the first day of classes, but from the runway that campus sidewalks had quickly become. Students arrived in bold looks, thrifted treasures, and carefully curated ensembles, each outfit telling its own story of self-expression. Every belt, every boot, every layered texture spoke louder than words: creativity is what A&T students are about, it's in our blood. 

Fashion here isn’t just about clothes. It’s about identity, resilience, and creativity. I spoke with several students on campus who shared their creative definitions of style and what inspires them to push boundaries. 

Dashya Lassiter on the left and Brandon Parker on the right

Freshman Brandon Parker (@yougotnokash) drew attention with a Flowar shirt, SNS boots, and a belt from BB Simons. His outfit was layered with personal meaning, including a whistle from his late uncle. “What inspires me is whatever I am feeling at the moment,” he said.

“Lately I’ve been messing with archive fashion and artists like Playboi Carti.” For Brandon, confidence is key: “Don’t let nobody tell you what you got on is bad,” he advises, “Always think your fit is the best out here, no matter what. And you just elevate from there.” Individuality and confidence are key factors in expressing your true self. 

Freshman Dashya Lassiter (@dashyalass) kept it classic with a Shein set and Converse high tops. She told me her process was about trial and error, “I was supposed to wear something totally different, but it felt ugly. I pulled this together instead, and I love it.” Her advice? “Don’t overthink it. Wear what you like. If it makes you happy, it’s not ugly.”  Her process reflects what creativity really is: editing, pivoting, and owning the final choice.

Mya Whitehead on the left and Alayjha Butcher on the right

Freshman Mya Whitehead (@they_know_myaa) made a statement in fur boots from Amazon and Fashion Nova pants. “This was a last-minute fit,” she laughed, admitting it took only an hour to get ready. For her, stepping into fashion is about stepping out of comfort zones. “I’m used to sweatpants and pajamas, but this is me trying.” Sometimes, creativity isn’t invention — it’s courage.

Mya’s advice on breaking into fashion? “Just be you, be creative with it. Everybody has their own style, so as long as you love it, that is all that matters.” You heard that? Fashion is truly about feeling like your best self, however that looks like for you. So express that creativity and have fun with it!

Sophomore Alayjha Butcher (@alayjha1116) paired a corset from Amazon with a Fashion Nova skirt. Her inspiration came from TikTok and Pinterest, but the meaning ran deeper. “FDOC (first day of class) is important because it pushes everyone out of their comfort zone. It’s how you meet new people.” Given that this is her second year here, she has some nice insights on the spirit of the first day of class! Since the first day of class is a big deal at NCAT, incoming freshmen always look forward to this time of the year to fully express themselves creatively. 

NCAT Senior, Gabby Howard

Senior Gabby Howard (@gabby.howarddd) represented a seasoned voice. Her thrift-heavy outfit channeled a boho-meets-streetwear energy, featuring pieces from Depop, Amazon, and vintage sources, including some heirloom jewelry. Her fashion compass points inward: “Black women are my biggest inspiration. Black people, everything I wear…I literally get all my inspiration from black women. I take that (inspiration) and put my own spin on it.” She stressed individuality above all.

“Forget what anyone else is doing. Take inspiration and make it your own. If you feel like wearing something in a particular way, do it, because that is you—that’s your image.”

Creativity here isn’t just about fabric; it’s about legacy and taking the step to be authentic. 

NCAT Student, Gloria Yousif (@its.gl0rita._) embodied audacity with her overalls, car-buckle belt, and colors that dared anyone to look away. She dismissed the myth that style requires luxury. “You don’t have to have all the designers to be fly,” she stressed, “Once you dress as your true, authentic self, you’ll see how fly you truly are.” Creativity, for her, is resistance — boldness against expectations, brightness against doubt.

Known creative, Gloria Yousif

To Gloria, fashion is a birthright. “I love clothes, I love bright colors, especially being a darkskin woman. People may say ‘that’s not cute of you,’ but yes, it is—I’m just authentic with myself.” The confidence and energy Gloria exudes is unmatched and it’s clear that she was born to be a creative.

Freshman Regyna Brown (@itzregyna) brought nostalgia and whimsy into the mix with her look.  Her inspirations? Disney Channel 2000s, Japanese fashion, and “twee-core”. Her thrifted outfit, crowned with beauty supply accessories, showed that innovation doesn’t always come from the runway — sometimes it comes from childhood memories. I inquired about her creative process when curating her style, “I just really wanted to wear this shirt— I grabbed the shirt, and I knew it needed to have something flowy with it—then I went on from there.” Her advice was simple but powerful: "Stop worrying about what people think. If it makes you happy, be happy.”

At A&T, the sidewalk runway proves one truth: creativity isn’t an accessory. It’s the fabric of identity, the language of confidence, and the unspoken bond between students daring to dress as themselves. From archive inspiration to TikTok boards, from thrift racks to Amazon splurges, each look was more than clothing—it was a declaration of identity. These Aggies remind us that fashion isn’t just what you wear. It’s how you create, how you resist, and how you show the world exactly who you are. On A&T’s campus, fashion is a daily reminder that creativity doesn’t just live in the classroom, it thrives on the sidewalk runway.

NCAT students on the FDOC