Fashion changed my life, and I've spent my career making sure the door doesn't close behind me.

I'm Octavius Terry, a couturier and designer who has spent more than 15 years dressing celebrity clients for red carpets like the Academy Awards and the Grammys. I trained at FIDM, earned two fashion design degrees, and competed on Project Runway, where I learned how to design under pressure and in front of the world. Before fashion, I was a world-class hurdler who competed for Team USA, so I know what it takes to work hard for something and keep going when it's difficult.

Here is what I've learned along the way: talent is everywhere, but access isn't. So many gifted young people, and plenty of grown people chasing a second chance, never get into fashion. They can't afford college, they don't know anyone in the industry, or nobody has ever shown them the way in.

That's why I built Runway Ready, my one-on-one, in-person apprenticeship. In two cohorts, I've already seen students come in unsure and leave with real skills, real portfolios, and real confidence. It works. The problem is that I can only fit so many people in one room.

On November 7, my birthday, my team and I are launching the Design House Skool community. It's a virtual home where students of all ages and backgrounds, especially those who have been left out, can learn fashion design from me and connect with a global fashion community. They won't need a campus, a huge tuition bill, or a connection to get started.

I'm $3,500 away from the finish line. Your gift will go directly toward:

-Professional equipment to film and deliver high-quality courses

-Books, patterns, and teaching materials

-Supplies and tools students can learn from

-Getting the Skool launched on time for November 7

No gift is too small. If you can't give, sharing this page helps just as much.

When you give, you're not just funding a launch. You're helping a young designer somewhere discover they belong in this industry. Thank you for helping me open the door wider.

With gratitude,

Octavius