Fashion - It's More Than What You Wear

Fashion is more than just the clothes and accessories we wear. It’s art and commerce as well. It makes a statement about who we are and where we are going.

Fashion sparks emotions, joy, confidence, empowerment. Our fashion choices are about how we present ourselves to the world.

In honor of New York Fashion Week, we present a select group of alumni entrepreneurs talking about their careers in fashion and design and how their Flatbush education shaped their journey.

Adina Kamkhatchi (ES ’09, HS ’13) founder of Adina’s Jewels is a rising star in the fashion jewelry business. In her own words, “My day to day life is really busy as I have so many things happening at once and I am the one who gives the final word on many different aspects of the business.”

What began as a personal passion has since grown into a multi-million dollar company with an enormous social media following and multiple celebrity clients, such as Billie Eilish, Kendall Jenner, and Cardi B.

Adina still lives in Brooklyn, where her business began.

Joshua Sitt (ES ’10, HS ’14) is an e-commerce entrepreneur. His direct to consumer lifestyle clothing brand, Mad Happy has taken off like a rocket. He and his partners have built their brand using new and old retail tactics, MadHappy's website, a Spotify shop, pop up stores and hosting special events. 

The goal of the brand in his own words is “to spread a sense of optimism and create conversation around mental health.” 

He credits his grounding in part to his YOF education. At YOF, he learned the value of collaboration and how to lead people as a Color War captain in his senior year. 

Gracy Accad (ES ’04, HS ’08) comes from a family of fashion and textile professionals. Her love for fashion developed at an early age. She has been designing under her own name since 2013, the Gracy Accad bridal and eveningwear collections are a combination of current trends and classic sensibility. 

Gracy said “Yeshivah of Flatbush was the stepping stone that lead me to be able to pursue a career in something I felt strongly about. Finding creative ways to express my individuality while maintaining a religious and traditional aesthetic was something that helped shape the designer I am today.” 

Gracy dresses private clients and designs for an élite clientele worldwide. She opened her first showroom in Manhattan in 2017 and her Fall Collection premiered at NY Fashion Week in 2018.