Visions Of La Moda

Our fashion program is based in San Francisco's Bayview District and we will be celebrating eleven years of success (June 2004 - June 2015)!  Classes are held in the lower level multi-purpose room at Faith Temple Church, 1758 Oakdale Ave.  This free hands-on program for urban youth is founded and managed by wardrobe stylist Traci Peace Greco and is offered to youth ages 12 - 15.  Our vision is to provide students with the best introduction to the fashion industry attainable.  The students are required to have good attendance and seriously involve themselves in the class curriculum.  Many of these young people overcome powerful obstacles and travel great distances to get to these classes.  The students are given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the high fashion industry though sewing and design (including mathematics and measurements), fashion illustration, fashion merchandising and public relations.  We will also be introducing our students to the study of Italian and French.  Paris (France), Milan (Italy), and New York City are the fashion centers of the world.  The opportunity to learn a second language will give our students an advantage when fashion houses require bilingual experience.  

In September 2008 Mrs. Greco took the students to New York on a fashion field trip.  The program was honored to be invited by TEEN VOGUE MAGAZINE for a private tour.  While there the students had the privilege to intern in various capacities during MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK - SPRING 2009 NEW YORK COLLECTIONS. The opportunity for these students to intern backstage dressing many of the models they see each month in TEEN VOGUE is something they'll never forget.  Mrs. Greco will FOREVER be grateful to San Francisco's own and program "Fairy Godmother" MRS. DENISE HALE, without her generous contribution our New York field trip would not have been possible.  Thanks to IMG (producers of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) and New York Designer Tracy Reese for an opportunity of a lifetime. The Fashion Department at the Academy of Art University and the Apparel Design & Merchandising Department at San Francisco State University are great supporters of our program!  Academy of Art is the only university to ever show annual collections during the prestigious NEW YORK FASHION WEEK. They provided our students with tickets to their show during NEW YORK FASHION WEEK in September 2008.  In San Francisco AAU has set up tours of the School of Fashion, as well as VIP seating for our students to attend their annual graduation fashion show.  San Francisco State's Apparel Design & Merchandising Department invited the students to be part of their annual fashion show in May 2008.  The students designed, made and modeled their own garments for that show. The department also donated a portion of proceeds from that show to our program.  SFSU again invited us to be part of their April 2010 Spring show and also donated a brand new Singer sewing machine.  On April 21, 2011 our student modeled their own designs in San Francisco State's spring show. The university donated a percentage of the proceeds from that show to our program. In December 2010 we were blessed to receive a $2,500.00 gift from The Honorable Judge Daniel Weinstein and the Danny Weinstein Foundation. 

We are convinced that the next Cristobal Balenciaga, Madame Gres, Ralph Rucci or John Galliano will discover their high fashion potential, while learning the skill of drawing/illustrating, designing, cutting and sewing through our program.  We are PASSIONATE about this program and the future of these young people.  We are determined that our students not only be prepared for advanced study at the world's top fashion schools, colleges and universities, but also LIFE in general. Visions Of La Moda is a 501(c)3 organization and we continue to vigorously pursuing funding for our program. 

Students are accepted into our program via an intensive interviewing process with the student candidate and their parent or guardian.  If you would like further information regarding our interview and application process, please contact Chief Youth Counselor, Julia Barboza, M.A. for further information. Visions of La Moda is a year round program and classes are FREE. But there is a REQUIRED, NON-REFUNDABLE $50.00 application fee.  This fee is to assist with the expenses of this program.  We ONLY accept CASH, MONEY ORDER or CASHIER'S CHECK.  Money orders and cashier's checks should be made payable to:  Visions of La Moda Fashion Studio for Youth.  The Application and fee should be mailed to:  Visions of La Moda Fashion Studio for Youth, 1758 Oakdale Ave. San Franciso, CA 94124.  PLEASE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND VIEW OUR PHOTO ALBUMS (facebook tab above), FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: VOLMyouthSF, read our STUDENT BLOGS: http://visionsoflamoda.wordpress.com/ and VIEW OUR NBC - 3 NEWS SEGMENT www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/From-Bayview-To-Runway-226415681.html.