Teens Spread Kindness Through Original Winter Fashion Creations

Emely, Amir, Trinity, Lily were abuzz waiting for Christel Araujo, a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, to lead a new workshop at the Children’s Aid at the Lexington Academy.

Organized by The Coca-Cola Company, all the teens knew for sure was that they were in for an unforgettable experience. Araujo started the workshop by sharing her nearly two-decade career in the fashion industry. It was a masterclass squeezed into an afternoon, covering the art of fashion design, design briefs, color research and branding.

Then, it was the teens’ turn to get creative. Tasked with producing their own designs, the teens received a single prompt from Araujo: “What does kindness look like?”

With that, they set to work on their designs. Along the way, Araujo offered her guidance, encouraging each teen to lean into their own brand of creativity.

“I had never thought of myself as a designer, so it was amazing to see my concept come to life,” says Emely, who studies software development at her high school.

The staff at Children’s Aid East Harlem Community Center were just as intrigued.

“First came the doodling,” says Marjorie “Midge” Caparosa, a program director, arts initiatives at Children’s Aid. “But as they drew, I watched them slowly start to gain a better understanding of what it means to spread kindness. We also connected with Christel, who happens to be an alumna of the same fashion design high school that two of our students will be attending High School of Fashion Industries in New York City.”

After the workshop, Araujo showed the teen designers how to refine their drawings and enhance their concepts using digital manipulation programs.

Their hard work paid off when Trinity, Amir and Lilly’s designs were selected for a cozy new line of winter hats, gloves and socks. During the colder months, shoppers were able to stock up on these accessories in the “Kindness Shoppe” inside Coca-Cola’s traveling Holiday Caravan. The caravan travelled coast-to-coast making stops in Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Portland, Los Angeles and many other big cities, showcasing the teens designs to thousands of people around the country. But the teens’ journey wasn’t over yet.

Seeing Designs Realized: A Trip to the Rose Bowl

A few months later, Trinity, Amir and Lilly boarded a plane to Los Angeles to see their designs in person. They attended Coca-Cola’s Holiday Caravan kickoff event, where their new “Kindness-inspired” winter accessories debuted at the Rose Bowl stadium.

“When they saw the final versions of their designs on the finished products, I was so pleased,” says Midge.

“The kids’ designs were truly professional. And having their work represented on this scale made them feel more confident and prouder of their creations.”

At the event, the teens participated in exclusive meet-and-greets with Los Angeles-based DJ duo Ship Wrek as well as Bobby Finke, an Olympic gold medalist in swimming, and Jordyn Barratt, a skateboarder who most recently represented America at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

“I never dreamed I’d have the chance to be a part of something like the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan,” says Trinity, who has been a Boys & Girls Club kid since kindergarten.

For the rest of the trip, the teens had a blast choosing and visiting their must-see L.A. destinations. From exploring a local university and eating out at West Coast restaurants, to seeing the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“The Kindness Project was an unforgettable, motivating experience that taught me to work hard and spread kindness as I go,” Amir says

Launching Future Careers with Confidence

Boys & Girls Clubs of America partners like The Coca-Cola Company make these skill-building and scene-changing experiences possible for millions of kids. Stepping out of the classroom and into a new environment can unlock a world of growth for young people. Embracing messages of kindness also encourages kids to engage openly with people whose life experiences differ from their own.

“For kids from East Harlem, going to California was a huge adventure. It was a bonding experience I don’t think would have happened back in New York,” says Midge. “They grew so much from the experience. It felt like everyone embraced their best self on this trip, comfortable and confident.”

While Trinity, Amir and Lilly’s career paths may diverge from fashion design, the critical thinking and project management skills they gained will be invaluable in any career. Lilly, who plans to become a veterinarian, agrees.

“The trip was a magical experience,” Lilly says. “I love that I got to be with my friends, meet new people and use creativity to promote kindness.”

LEARN MORE

About The Coca-Cola Company

For more than 75 years, The Coca-Cola Company has worked to strengthen local communities through its partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). As a founding sponsor of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Workforce Readiness Strategy, The Coca-Cola Company’s investment supports essential skill development, career exploration, employability skills and credentialing, and work-based learning opportunities for youth at 5,400 Clubs nationwide. Together, we’re helping to close the opportunity and job readiness gap by preparing the over 3 million youth who visit Clubs every day to become the future American workers, leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

Opening Doors to Brighter Futures

Being successful isn’t just about avoiding failure — it’s about turning setbacks into steppingstones. At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we’re dedicated to helping young people build that same resilience. Through our life and workforce readiness programs, we provide the mentorship and real-world experiences youth need to transform challenges into opportunities.