NEW YORK — For designer Veejay Floresca, fashion is survival, self-expression and a pathway to possibility.
“Fashion means life for me,” she says. “It’s the reason why I’m here, the reason why I wake up every morning, and how I make the life of my family better.”
Now, as one of the designers on Project Runway Season 21, Floresca is using the platform to share her story with the world: an immigrant and a transgender woman of color who never stopped believing in her dream.
Floresca grew up in the Philippines, where she first fell in love with fashion. She recalls watching Project Runway since the beginning and placed second runner-up on Project Runway Philippines Season 1.
So, she says, “Being here in Season 21 is a dream come true!”
Her design aesthetic is deeply rooted in her heritage, often influenced by combining natural Filipino fabrics and embroidery with contemporary trends and a minimalist aesthetic.
“Filipinos are resourceful, creative and hardworking,” she says.
“It always translates in my design where there’s that labor of love.”
In the lead up to the season finale, Floresca urged others to fight for their dreams.
“If I can make it, you can make it too,” she says. “Someone will believe in you and will see your potential, so never ever lose hope!”
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