Brooke Sumpter is proving you are never too young to turn a big idea into something real.
At just 11 years old, the Linden, New Jersey sixth grader has become the youngest person ever to partner with American Girl, creating her own fashion collection for the iconic doll brand. ABC7 New York reports that Brooke first became interested in fashion while she was still in preschool.
Her journey started at home.
Brooke told ABC7 that she did not always like the clothes her mother picked out for her, so she began paying attention to her grandmother at the sewing machine. From there, she started learning how to sew for herself, eventually making hats, gloves, dresses, and clothing for her dolls.
As her skills grew, Brooke started noticing that some doll clothes did not always match the personality or style she imagined for them.
So she began creating her own.
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That creativity eventually led to Cherry Blossom Couture, a collection developed in partnership with American Girl and Harlem’s Fashion Row. American Girl says the collection was designed by Brooke and includes runway-inspired fashions for girls and 18-inch dolls, complete with matching colors, fabrics, bows, and cherry blossom details.
Black Enterprise reports that Brooke officially unveiled the collection during Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 19th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards, marking both her New York Fashion Week debut and American Girl’s first appearance at NYFW. The collection launched nationwide on September 9.
The collection includes multiple looks for American Girl dolls as well as a coordinating dress for girls. One of the signature pieces features a blue bodice with layers of blue-and-pink mesh, while the doll version can be styled with a detachable skirt and denim varsity jacket decorated with embroidered cherry blossoms.
And Brooke is already thinking about what comes next.
ABC7 New York reports that she plans to open her own design studio in Union, New Jersey, where she hopes to teach both children and adults how to sew. She also has a dream list of future collaborators that includes Beyoncé, Teyana Taylor, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Taylor Swift.
For Brooke, the experience has already taught her one important lesson: keep believing in what you can create.
From watching her grandmother sew to seeing her own designs sold by American Girl, Brooke Sumpter is making history one stitch at a time.