Fashion with Meaning: Joanne Lacrete’s Journey Toward Conscious Creation

Joanne Lacrete: Emerging Fashion Talent at RED Fashion School

From the moment you enter the classrooms and studios of RED Fashion School in Norwalk, Connecticut, there’s a sense of purpose in the air — students stitching, draping, sketching, and turning ideas into garments. Among them is Joanne Lacrete, a student whose journey captures what RED is all about: passion, growth, and craftsmanship.

A Student with Eyes on the Fundamentals

When Joanne was relatively early in her RED experience — about two months into the school’s 15-month certificate program when she has already expressed a strong sense of confidence in what she’s learning.

She noted how much she values the hands-on teaching approach:

“They teach a very hands-on, so it helps you really grasp the skills or whatever you're learning.”

This isn’t surprising given RED’s emphasis on not just theoretical knowledge, but the actual craft — measuring, threading, cutting fabric, pattern making, sample room work and more.

Finding Her Place in a New Program

RED Fashion School officially opened its doors in Norwalk late 2023, offering Connecticut’s first recognized certificate program in fashion design. Red Fashion School The program is designed to provide students like Joanne with a full vertical education — meaning students are exposed to every stage of design, from conceptualization through collection production and marketing. Red Fashion School

For Joanne, being part of the inaugural cohort means being part of something new and ambitious. It’s a chance not just to learn a craft but to help define what this school is. RED’s founder, Irina Simeonova, has expressed high expectations for her students, emphasizing the importance of devotion, creativity, and the ability to develop real skills that can be used immediately in the fashion industry.

What Drives Joanne (Jojo)

• Mastery through Practice: She clearly appreciates the personal focus. Having instructors who guide individual learning rather than treating everyone the same helps her feel she’s truly growing.
• Skill + Confidence: Even early in the program, she says she “already feels secure in the skills she’s learned.” That suggests that the pace and teaching style at RED are giving her more than just exposure — they’re building self-trust in what she can do.
• Being Part of Something Unique: Joanne recognized that RED is filling an important gap in the region, being one of the first places in Connecticut and even in the US to offer this kind of certified fashion education with an intensive model.

Looking Ahead

Joanne’s trajectory looks promising. If the past months are any indication, she’s likely to carry forward strong technical skills, meaningful creative thinking, and a readiness to produce work that’s both thoughtful and polished.

As RED’s programs further take shape, students like Joanne will play a central role — not just learning, but helping set the tone and demonstrating what it means to graduate from a school built around Research + Educate + Design.

NOW-Joanne Lacrete: Designing With Purpose

At Red Fashion School, innovation and responsibility go hand in hand, and graduate now student Joanne Lacrete embodies this vision. With a deep commitment to sustainable fashion, Joanne developed her most recent collection around natural dyes and coloring techniques, creating a series of original textiles that showcase both artistry and environmental awareness.

Her portfolio demonstrates not only technical skill but also a forward-thinking mindset. The ambitious silhouettes and intricate details of her designs reflect a style that is bold, thoughtful, and uniquely her own. By weaving sustainability into her creative process, Joanne is shaping a new path of belonging among the next generation of designers — young people determined to look ahead, address climate change, and bring conscious innovation into the fashion world.

This dedication to meaningful creation aligns perfectly with Red Fashion School’s mission: to cultivate designers who are not only skilled and creative but also socially and environmentally responsible. Joanne’s work stands as an inspiring example of how fashion can be both visionary and impactful, proving that design has the power to make a difference.