Daily Fashion Juice
Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Teen has designs on career in fashion

By VALERIE SWEETEN

Cy Falls High School freshman Jazzmin Reynolds has the skills needed to fulfill her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

Her love of design began at age 6 when she took her first art class. Her sketches revealed an upscale fashion approach.

Her request for a sewing machine at the age of 9 and the offer to custom-make clothes exposed a designer in the making.

Reynolds' determination resulted in the launch of her own fashion line, BJazz Fashions, four years ago.

Her drive also led Reynolds to the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy, a six-month, teen small business start-up incubator program.

YEA is part of the Texas Business Alliance, a nonprofit small business development program.
She premiered her first prototype dress at the Aug. 19-20 One Woman National Business Conference in Sugar Land. At the same event, she graduated from YEA.

Adults have been inspired by Reynolds' quest for success.

Rachel Roberson, a longtime family friend in Cypress, watched Reynolds create upscale pieces with EZ patterns, a cutting board and fabric. The work she pursues lately is couture-driven, said Roberson.
"I'm totally wowed. Her sketch pad is filled with absolutely gorgeous dresses. She's serious. I'll do anything to help her efforts. She's so young, driven, focused and knowledgeable," she said.
Al Anderson, a Galleria resident and architect, appreciates the intricate research and development that goes into her work.

Anderson met Reynolds at Windsor Village United Methodist Church, where both are members. She participates in the Entrepreneurial Ministry group there.

"It was her creativity that I noticed," he said. "I think her work is something different that you don't see every day. She strives to be innovative. It's appealing and very stylish," he said.

Reynolds, a native Houstonian, is the daughter of Rochelle Reynolds, an adviser with Lone Star College-Tomball.

Influenced by Vera Wang, Chanel and Project Runway, Reynolds prefers working with satin, taffeta and silk.

Her designs cover the gamut from prom dresses, and cocktail wear to formals and suits. She gradually is expanding to include weddings.

She's taking pre-orders for custom pieces. She has a seamstress ready to go she said. Her website, www.BJAZZFashions.com, will feature the latest news.

Reynolds' goal is to make an impact on the fashion world.

"I'm very determined and very excited. I've waited for this. I knew it was going to take a while. I like how my work is very different, beautiful and elegant," she said.

Her plans are to get a bachelor's degree in education with a minor in business, a master's degree in business administration and a doctorate in education.

She wants to obtain fashion design degrees and certificates so that she can be a teacher and manage her fashion design business, too.