When I arrive at the young designer Ryan’s* house for our interview, he meets me at the door with a wide smile and a firm handshake, then leads me into the living room. He politely offers me a drink as I begin unpacking my laptop, and as I watch him walk into the kitchen my eyes land on the dining room table, which is covered with his work—jeans with custom inserts, a faux fur vest, watercolors of shoe designs, and pencil drawings of power suits. Ready for the interview, he sits down on the sofa with a juice in hand and adjusts a pillow that is slightly out of place. “I want everything to be perfect,” he says.
His commitment to perfection is evident; at only eleven years old, Ryan has a fashion career that has already taken off—no small feat for a full-time fifth grader. But Ryan’s journey hasn’t been easy. Born six weeks premature and weighing just 2.9 pounds, he spent his first year in and out of the hospital and relied on central lines, oxygen, and feeding tubes until he was four years old. He has undergone ten surgeries and countless procedures for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and short bowel syndrome, and overcame full paralysis caused by the extremely rare disease botulism.
What got Ryan and his parents, Melanie and Andy, through those fragile years was the unwavering support of the Rochester community. “Daystar Kids and Golisano Children’s Hospital played a huge role in his journey,” says Melanie. “These two organizations provided the support that helped get him to where he is today.”
Ryan’s love for fashion began at age four with a special fascination for shoes, particularly red-bottomed Christian Louboutins and blue-soled Betsey Johnsons. When traveling, his favorite activity is exploring department stores and shoe boutiques to discover the latest designs. During a recent visit to Manolo Blahnik in London, the sales team enthusiastically supported his budding interest in shoe design by gifting him a signed sketch, stickers, and a signature shopping tote. They even asked for Ryan’s card to share his story with Manolo Blahnik himself.
“You can wear the perfect outfit, but the wrong shoes will ruin the whole look,” Ryan comments. “Imagine a Versace ball gown paired with the wrong shoes; it would completely flop.”
In 2023, Ryan had the chance to meet Katy Perry at a VIP event in Las Vegas, where he boldly asked if he could design shoes for her brand. He submitted ten concepts, which she and her team loved, and he remains hopeful that one of his designs will make it into her collection someday. Katy was so impressed by his style that she invited him on stage during her show. Wearing a pair of Katy Perry Collections boots, Ryan confidently walked the stage and captivated an audience of more than 5,000 people. He was a natural on stage, igniting a newfound passion for modeling and acting.
Ryan has walked the runway in Fashion Week Rochester (FWR) for two consecutive years, commanding the audience with his energy and confidence every time he stepped into the spotlight. “Ryan came to us as a model, and we immediately fell in love with him,” says Meghan Mundy, chief fashion organizer for FWR, “The way he moves into a room, you are instantly drawn to him—not to mention he slays the runway with grace and skill. He has big dreams with the drive to attain them. I’m excited to watch how his talents guide him through life.”
This year, one of Ryan’s biggest projects is designing a custom outfit for Gracie Hicks, a 2025 Miss South Carolina contestant who discovered his work on social media. “I was immediately drawn to his ability to blend bold style with a deep sense of personal expression,” says Hicks, who plans on wearing the Ryanoriginal during the talent portion of the competition this June.
Hicks will deliver a compelling monologue about overcoming obstacles to becoming a lawyer and the outfit needed to embody this journey. Rising to the challenge, Ryan designed a sleek, modern black suit inspired by the movie Legally Blonde, which Hick’s seamstress is now skillfully bringing to life. “I explained my desire to walk on stage feeling like the next Elle Woods—strong, confident, and unapologetically myself. Ryan not only understood my vision but exceeded my expectations, creating a design that perfectly captures the essence of who I am and the message I want to share,” she adds.
Looking ahead, Ryan plans to continue participating in Fashion Week Rochester and working on his unique shoe and apparel designs. He’s already decided that, in the future, he wants to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, with aspirations of designing for and walking red carpets someday.
When asked how it feels to achieve so much as such a young age, he replies, “Honestly, it’s a little shocking. It’s surprising and kind of surreal, but it makes me really happy.”
See Ryan’s style on Instagram: @unconditionallyryan.
*We are omitting Ryan’s last name to protect his family’s privacy.
Models Ruby B. and Arwen G., provided by the Mary Therese Friel Modeling Agency
Photographer Greg Hollar
This article originally appeared in the May/June 2025 issue of (585).
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