Amatullah S., '26 Fashion Design & Product Development ~ No Excuses

Meet Amatullah, '26 BA Fashion Design & Product Development! She shares her story about getting a jump start with her Wade College experience, advancing her skills, building her fashion brand Pious Petal, and keeping faith first. Learn more about Amatullah's experiences below. 

What inspired you to pursue your degree and major?

 I've been choosing my own outfits since I was three years old. Nothing has ever stood out to me as brightly as fashion. For that reason, I went with my gut and decided to see how far my love of clothes could take me. Education is encouraged in my family, my community, and my religion, so pursuing a degree was the obvious choice.

What is your career goal?

 My career goal is to be a part of the sustainable fashion industry. However I can do that, I'm gonna do it. Having multiple careers throughout life has interested me ever since I discovered that was an option, so I'm carrying that spirit with me. Currently, I own a fashion brand called Pious Petal (piouspetal.com, IG: @piouspetalshop) that incorporates sustainability, modesty, and affordability into every piece. Recently, I've been dreaming to one day open a thrift store with unique features, follow me on my journey to find out more. 🙂

Why did you decide to get a Jump Start with your Wade College studies?

Two reasons I decided to join the Jump Start program: To help me prepare and to meet people like me. Spoiler alert: it was perfect for that! A bonus of joining was compensating for these crazy trimesters. All my friends were starting school, and I wanted a stronger sense of normalcy and my usual routine.

What has been your favorite class? Why?

 Trend forecasting was fun because I love colors. Draping l and ll may have been my absolute favorites because the classroom environment was always so calm and it was lowkey therapeutic to sit, pin fabric to a form, and watch in live time as it slowly became a really beautiful design.

What have you enjoyed most about your Wade College experience?

I've enjoyed rapidly enhancing my skills the most. When I started here, my goal was to sew three pieces per term. I was slow to accomplish even that, but now I'm doing as much in a matter of days - all praise is due to God. Life really is what you make of it, and that applies to Wade as well. Fashion is my life, and I wasn't trying to leave without fully applying myself.

What advice would you give to a new student?

Every pathway in life has its challenges. If you love your major, you can make it work. My advice: God first, always. Apply yourself, consistently challenge yourself (don't do too much), no excuses, no missing class or assignment deadlines for silly reasons, take advantage of Wade's support system and resources. Every project builds your portfolio, so keep it cohesive while showing your range. If you're an entrepreneur, start a business while you're at Wade so you can use what you've learned while it's still fresh AND get help from employees/peers.

Anything else you’d like to share?

You are on a unique journey, so don't go feeling bad when you think you're behind your peers. Just do your best, as God does the rest.