In the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, students may have noticed more creative and courageous fashion choices walking through the halls. Fashion Club, a new club, is quickly becoming a space where students feel free to express themselves through their style. The Fashion Club was founded last month by sophomores Soffie Ong and Abella Aleman Fashion Club’s goal is to encourage self-expression, build community and give students a creative outlet. With the rise of alternative fashion at BVH, the co-presidents and their officers saw an opportunity to create a space where students could feel assured exploring their identities.
“Our main purpose is to encourage self-exploration and identity within fashion and build a community that supports [one another]. I always think about the [several] times my friends came up to me asking how confident [I am] enough to dress up for school and it made me realize [that] I never knew how many people are afraid to be themselves, [and] how many people worry about how others see them,” Ong said.
Ong feels as if the foundation of Fashion Club is more than trends going around and clothing. Ong sees fashion as a way for students to discover who they are, while also learning to feel confident in their own skin. Many students are nervous to stand out and Ong aims to make the club change that by creating a welcoming environment where style is seen as a strength.
“I wanted to create a community where the things that were being discussed revolved around the idea of fashion, since it is one of the many things I am passionate about, ” Aleman said. “Being a part of this club, especially as one of the co-presidents, means a lot to me since studying and just being a part of a fashion revolved world is what I want for myself in the future.”
Aleman expressed how personal this club is to her. The Fashion Club is more than a high school activity–it is a step toward the future Ong hopes to pursue in the fashion community. Together, Aleman and Ong have already begun brainstorming activities such as DIY crafts, mood boards and even larger events like clothes swaps or pop up markets. While the details are still being planned, both leaders are determined to make the club a center of creativity and expression at BVH. Sean Palen, sophomore and Vice President of Fashion Club shares how it has brought him a safe space for expression and a community he can share his interests with.
“It gives me a space where I can be myself around people and show them my interests and find other people that have the same interests. Fashion clubs let people know that they don’t have to change for other people and that they are fine just the way they are,,” Palen said.
Palen pointed out how important it is for students to feel like they belong in a club. His words show that Fashion Club is not just about planning activities, but about making friends and connecting with others. The club also looks outward for inspiration. Ong explained that she often gathers ideas from community markets in San Diego, such as the Lucky Stars Market at North Park and the Scene Kid Swag Market at Oceanside. These experiences allow her to bring elements of professional and local fashion communities back to BVH.
“Some of the club’s ideas come naturally to me but [the] majority of the time, it is based on what I have seen. I go to community market events near San Diego [and] I observe what activities [the community markets] do and see how I could incorporate those elements into our club,,” Ong said.
Aleman spoke on the importance of the involvement of the members of the club. The officers want members to feel that their voices matter in shaping the club’s directions. This ensures that the club reflects the interests and needs of everyone, not just leaders.
“Most of the club ideas come from Soffie, but usually all of the officers will brainstorm ideas of what we should do for meetings together either via text or in person. We want to focus more on discussing certain fashion topics for the first couple of meetings, but we are thinking of eventually maybe doing some small crafts like DIY accessories,,” Aleman said.
The leaders are excited to see how the club can grow. Palen believes that as more students find the Fashion Club, they will discover more than just the surface of Fashion. The officers also hope that the club can inspire creativity and help students express themselves in new ways. By building a supportive community, they aim to make Fashion Club a place where everyone feels valued. He adds that the club will give members a welcoming space for emotional support.
“I think as more students find our club, they will be able to express themselves more and they know that they can come to us whenever they need fashion advice. We are honestly just a place to let out emotions or their interests or just like what they want to achieve in their style,,” Palen said.
Looking forward to the future, both Co-Presidents shared their hopes for long term success here at BVH. Aleman believes the club will last long after she graduates and envisions a future where Fashion Club turns into a more well-known and familiar club to students here on campus. Ong agrees, sharing that although she does not know what the future has in store for her club, she is committed to the club’s growth.
“I see the club continuing and thriving in the future, even after I graduate because I think fashion is such a big thing people think and revolve around and it is kind of shocking there was not really a club like that here yet. I see this club still being a big thing in the future,,” Aleman said.
Aleman was the first to share her thoughts on the future of the club. She expressed that her hope is for Fashion Club to continue thriving well after her graduation. Ong shares a similar idea, although a little different, Ong is still determined in creating a future for Fashion Club, one where the club’s goals are attained now and in the future.
“I am really not sure what will happen in the future regarding the Fashion Club but I do know I am committed to it. I hope to have our club’s ambitions fulfilled: have mini-events, create new things, gain many members and have fun. That is my vision, but we have a long way to go,,” Ong said.
The Fashion Club may still be in its early stages, but its leaders share a clear vision. They hope to encourage students to express themselves freely, to create community through style, and to leave behind a lasting legacy of creativity and confidence at BVH fulfilling their own ambitions of creating something bigger than themselves.
“I have always wanted to start a club, especially [one] I am passionate about. It is exciting to work with the officers who are as equally into fashion as me to create something big, to give ourselves a name while doing what we enjoy. This club is an extension of who I am as a person and a creative outlet,,” Ong says.
