From bedroom sketches to the runway

How I built, funded, and lived my fashion school dream

- By ANA YSABEL C. BUENAVENTURA, 18

If you told 17-year-old me—sitting on the floor of my bedroom, packing orders while reviewing for a physics exam—that I'd one day study Fashion under Vogue, I wouldn't have believed you.

But one year, a few popups, and a lot of late nights later, that's exactly what happened. This is the story of how I started Isa the Label, saved up for a dream I thought was out of reach, and found myself in New York City, learning from people I once only read about in magazines.

Starting the label at 17

Isa the Label began in April 2024, just as I turned 17. Like most teenage girls, I spent hours scrolling Pinterest, curating outfits, supporting local and thrifted brands, and dreaming of a wardrobe that felt like “me.” One day, I decided to stop just dreaming and start to try making them myself. After a lot of convincing, my mom let me borrow P10,000. Together, we went fabric sourcing, and soon after, I had my first samples—most of which were disasters at first.

Deciding to apply to Vogue Summer School