Out of Stock: My First Runway

This spring, I had the incredible honor of showcasing a dress I created for the Houston Museum of Contemporary Arts Teen Runway Show, “Out of Stock.” It was my first time seeing my creativity come to life in such a powerful way. Watching my design not just exist on paper or in my mind, but walk down a runway.

The show was part of the museum’s exhibition on consumerism, including its impact on the medical industry. One of the highlighted pieces, The Constant Chase by Riley Hill, was a striking epoxy sculpted, paper mâché prescription bottle painted in acrylics. It reflected the ongoing epidemic of patients caught in the greed of pharmaceutical companies,

something that resonated deeply with me as a type one diabetic.

Fashion became my way of contributing to this conversation. My dress was a white, flowing piece made with recycled materials, designed to represent the fragile balance between the limitations of chronic illness and the freedom we continue to fight for every day. The lightweight draping symbolized resilience, while the airy structure embodied the freedom that diabetics seek beyond the weight of high costs, restrictions, and medical dependence. For me, it was not just a garment, but a statement against the commodification of health—an artistic reminder that patients are not products.

The experience became even more meaningful because the model who wore my design was my best friend, Amelie Whitehouse. Earlier this year, Amelie was paralyzed by a rare spinal cord condition and spent two months in the hospital learning how to walk again. Just three months after her recovery, she was walking her first runway show, in my dress. Seeing her embody the spirit of strength and freedom in a design inspired by resilience and survival was nothing short of breathtaking.

I’ve always loved fashion, but this show was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. It wasn’t just about beauty, but about storytelling, advocacy, and hope. “Out of Stock” reminded me that clothes can hold meaning far beyond fabric, and I know this is only the beginning of my journey in design.

Read more from The Museum of Contemporary Arts Houston about the exhibition: https://camh.org/event/out-of-stock/