Learn the ins and outs of fashion design in this hands-on workshop with renowned designer Cristina Ruales.
The 10:45AM workshop will introduce figure drawing and the design process, while the 12:45PM workshop will expand on those ideas and dive into how a designer conceives of a collection.
SAT. JUNE 18 | 10:45AM (for Kids ages 7+)
SAT. JUNE 18 | 12:45PM (for Teens/Adults ages 12+)
Cristina Ruales - a unique point of view in design promoting confidence. A proud Latina, born in Ecuador; and single mother of twins - has long been mentoring others on how to make it in one of the most competitive industries and empowering others to celebrate their individuality. At 16, she began to pursue her dreams at Parsons (BFA) followed by Yale University (MFA) with a focus on the history of fashion. In her daily life and as seen through her bold designs, Cristina draws directly from her love of nature and architecture for inspiration and symbolic representation. Cristina has gained recognition for her designs on New York Fashion Week runways as well as many editorial appearances including InStyle, Vogue and WWD. She has served as senior designer for DKNY Jeans, VP of Design for Jill Stuart and CEO of Cristina Ruales - her eponymous brand. After years of gaining incredible knowledge on merchandising, production, and sales within the creative business of fashion design, Cristina Ruales is devoting time to expanding and cultivating her reach towards a larger audience. Soon Cristina Ruales is to unveil a DECOR collection for interiors, as well as her own interior design business, podcast, public speaker, and business coach - advocating for inclusivity and equality.
Her aim is to inspire and reach others in any way that promotes confidence; within ourselves and the spaces we all live in. Ultimately her long standing goal of inspiring all to #celebrateindividuality is at the basis of all her creative and public endeavors.
Founded over 40 years ago as an affiliate of Young Audiences, Arts for Learning Connecticut has remained a leading provider of arts in education programs in the state. Our staff of four and roster of 70+ teaching artists serve 150,000+ PK-12 students in over 60% of Connecticut’s towns annually. We work primarily in schools—and also in community centers, libraries, and other civic institutions—offering performances, workshops, residencies, and professional development. Our work spans the creative spectrum—from spoken word poetry and contemporary visual art to classical Kathak dance and improv theater. Our diverse roster of teaching artists is reflective of the students we serve.
At its core, the problem AFLCT works to solve is the fact that many students throughout Connecticut are underserved—and underperforming. In a state with the greatest income inequality in the nation and a deep-rooted and seemingly intractable gap in educational performance between those with and without socioeconomic means, educators and administrators struggle to find resources and programs that can make a difference for young people. In the face of extraordinary financial, human resource, and—of course—health challenges that have had an outsized negative impact on schools, students, and families, we believe our role is to provide effective, efficient, inspired programming that leverages diverse resources to provide critical learning opportunities for all students.
