As prom season arrives, teens spend countless hours scouring clothing racks and browsing websites in search of the perfect look. But for one teen, the dress of her dreams didn’t come from a store, it came from her little sister instead.
Mikayla Lewis entrusted the creation of her prom dress with her 14-year-old sister, Courtney, after she expressed an interest in making one for her.
“I wanted to challenge myself and get experience in how it would feel to be a professional seamstress and gown designer. I thought it would be the perfect gift before she heads off to college,” Courtney told Because of Them We Can.
Some might say that’s a lot of trust, but Mikayla believed in her sister’s talent, even though she had never sewn anything before.
Courtney made the first sketch of Mikayla’s dress in November 2018. After consulting with one another, a few tweaks were made and she began the process of making the dress in February of this year. With the help of her mentor, Syreeta Herbet, Courtney completed the dress on April 22nd, just four days shy of prom.
“At the beginning the process seemed very challenging. At times I thought maybe it would be better if she just purchased a pre-made dress from a store,” said Courtney. “But my motivation was creating the dream dress my sister wanted and deserved.”
Thankfully, she kept going and the dress turned out exactly how Mikayla envisioned.
“I’m amazed that my little sister was able to create an original piece for me. I was so happy to have a dress that no one else would have that was tailor made for me,” said Mikayla.
According to their mother, Crystal Lewis, Mikayla deserved the special attention and care that went into making her prom extra special. In addition to being a great role model and assisting with her three younger sisters, Mikayla has also managed to maintain a 4.57 GPA.
She will be attending the University of Maryland College Park this fall where she plans to study Animal Science with the goal of becoming a veterinarian one day.
As for Courtney, nailing this dress has bolstered her confidence. She is a student at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts studying in the technical design and production field. From the school website: The Technical Design and Production (TDP) department provides a pre-professional training program that focuses on instruction in five core areas of live entertainment: audio, lighting, scenery, costumes, and management.
While she has a few more years to decide on her post high school plans, she definitely sees a future in not only fashion, but also in doll repainting and CosPlay design.
It’s safe to say these sisters will challenge and support one another’s dreams for years to come.