Move over Armani — this kid’s got style

High schooler Wade Driscoll is creating his own high-fashion clothing line.

Fun hobby, right? 👗

For Wade, it’s far more than just a hobby — it’s already a career — one that started when he was only 10 years old. 

Here’s how he pulled it off. 👇

First, he discovered his passion for fashion

At 10 years old, Wade started experimenting with fashion as a form of personal expression.

Wade’s mom shared his interest, watching every season of Project Runway with him and even taking him to Paris for a fashion event.

Wade was clearly destined to become a designer — but it wasn’t until an AlphaX workshop that he connected the dots.

“It just clicked for me,” says Wade. Fashion was his passion. 

To help students find their passion, AlphaX follows the Japanese principle ikigai, which means “that which gives your life purpose”.

Your ikigai is the intersection between: 

• What you’re good at

• What you love to do

• What the world needs

• What you can get paid for

Once students identify their passion, AlphaX helps them go pursue it.

Then, he learned how to bring it to life

Once Wade discovered that he wanted a career in fashion, it was time to create a garment.

🪡 But as it just so happens… that’s pretty freaking hard.

Wade threw himself into learning the basics. One garment after another, his skills began to improve.

But it wasn’t enough just to make clothes. Wade wanted to make art — and a meaningful impact on sustainability. 

With the fashion industry accounting for 10% of global carbon emissions, Wade has committed to:

• Creating his pieces with recycled materials

• Visually representing sustainability in his designs 👇

Finally, he learned how to turn passion into profit

The designs are just one half of the puzzle. Wade also needed to create a business — and that’s where his upcoming event comes in.

And if he’s nervous about planning an event of this caliber, he’s not showing it.

He has already:

• Secured a venue

• Secured an investor

• Crafted a profitable business plan 💸

“I know exactly what I want,” says Wade. “But I have a hard time showing it to other people so they can help me bring it to life.”

It’s not easy, but Wade is picking up a crucial life skill: communication. 

Mentorship matters 

Designing a fashion line and planning a big event with zero experience is… tough.

So how does Wade do it?

He makes the most of all the support he gets, especially through his guides at AlphaX.

“There’s always somebody that I can talk to… they can give me resources and help me navigate struggles,” says Wade. 

Wade was also placed in an advanced program for outstanding AlphaX students, which enabled him to buy a new sewing machine. 

But the best gift that AlphaX has given him?

The knowledge of what his passion is — and the support he needed to make it happen.

“Right now, if I was at a public school, I would just be wasting all my time studying for exams and pouring my heart into that instead of doing what I know I want to do in life,” says Wade.

Wade is reinventing the fashion industry for a new generation. 

Sure, there might not be an AP credit waiting for him at the end of all this, but there’s something much better — real-world skills and a lifelong passion. ⭐