| Fashion design school helped Carrie Cochran say | | | | work consistently in a fashion design career since |
| RICKY MARTIN wore my T-shirt. Well, not her | | | | then to support myself using my skills. All my hard |
| personal shirt -- Carrie actually custom-designed | | | | work really paid off when I received a phone call |
| T-shirts for the popstar to wear throughout his world | | | | from tennis legend SERENA WILLIAMS, who was |
| tour in 2005. That was a proud moment for the | | | | asking me to be a part of her fashion company, |
| thriving fashion designer. | | | | Aneres." |
| Carrie has dreamed of a fashion design career for a | | | | It's all a matter of who you know and how you get |
| long time. "I've always had a talent with creativity | | | | your name, work, and garments out there, according |
| and art," she explains. "When I was a teen, I would | | | | to Carrie. Doors to other opportunities have opened |
| sew and design my own clothes and costumes. | | | | up with every one of her pieces that gets worn. "I |
| Sewing and fashion was my hobby, and I spent all | | | | was introduced to Ricky Martin about a year ago |
| my free time doing it." | | | | through a friend. He had seen my work and fell in |
| Carrie was a natural, so she steadfastly headed to a | | | | love with it," she says. "He wore one of my |
| fashion design school to cultivate her craft. She | | | | accessories to last year's Video Music Awards on |
| attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where | | | | MTV." |
| she eventually graduated with honors. "The fashion | | | | As a result, Carrie created an entire collection of |
| design school was close to home and I easily | | | | accessories, as well as custom T-shirts for the Latin |
| attended while still living at home with my parents," | | | | singer which he sported throughout his world tour |
| she recalls. "After visiting the fashion design school, a | | | | last year. |
| guided tour with a counselor nailed my decision | | | | So now that Carrie has her dream fashion design |
| down." Excited by what the fashion design college | | | | career realized, what's next? Fashion design college |
| had to offer in terms of classes, an annual fashion | | | | yet again to get her masters perhaps? Maybe even |
| show that students participated in, and educational | | | | more celebrity collaborations? The sky is the limit |
| trips to New York and Paris, Carrie knew she | | | | once an aspiring fashion designer has experience and |
| wouldn't regret choosing fashion design college. | | | | a degree to back up his or her credentials. For Carrie, |
| "I'm very proud to have graduated with honors from | | | | the next step may be a fashion design business. |
| a fashion design school," she explains. "I was able to | | | | |