Hanna Nakaishi Reyes, a senior apparel design major, embodies the West Valley College promise: 鈥淔ree College, Endless Possibilities!鈥� Through connections made during her 大秀直播 journey, in fall 2025 Reyes will transfer to the Paris College of Art in Paris, France.
Studying fashion design in the global fashion capital was no foregone conclusion for Reyes, a lackluster high school student who grew up in Union City. She previously worked as a data analyst and in the escrow industry. Her dad manages a warehouse and her mom works in accounting. 
鈥淏efore I got to West Valley, I鈥檇 always been interested in fashion,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I grew up lower class economically, so I chose other jobs out of survival rather than aspiration.鈥�
Reyes calls her aesthetic alt, characterized by darker clothing, often featuring hardware and wider silhouettes. She also favors hand-crocheted pieces.
Now, at 27, Reyes is on the path to furthering her professional ambition to design formal menswear and, potentially, knitwear.
But first, it took a slowdown in the housing market and a 2022 layoff from her escrow company job to prompt Reyes to reconsider pursuing her lifelong fascination with fashion. Her research鈥攁nd her bank balance鈥攍ed her to focus on community college programs with West Valley rising to the top.
Any doubts about retraining dissipated on her first day of instruction in a fashion illustration course.
鈥淚t was probably, honestly, the first time I was truly happy continuing my education,鈥� recalls Reyes, who soon thrived among like-minded students she characterizes as 鈥渧ery helpful and social.鈥�
Helpful also describes her experience with faculty across disciplines, from design to nutrition.
Her nutrition science instructor, Wendy Bowers-Gachesa, Reyes said, 鈥渨as so passionate about nutrition, it made me excited about going to her class. It made me more interested in nutrition and what I was eating.鈥�
She credits her English instructor for strengthening both her writing and critical thinking skills. 鈥淚t made me think more critically about my collection and what it meant: how I wanted to apply art to my design,鈥� she said.
The biggest breakthrough toward reaching her goal, however, came in June 2024 when she participated in a six-day 大秀直播 Art and Fashion Study Tour to Paris, Reyes鈥� first trip out of the country. The program included visits to the Dior Museum, the Louvre, and the Paris College of Art (PCA).
Thanks to an interview arranged at PCA by tour leader and 大秀直播 instructor Lorrie McPheeters, Reyes met one-on-one with Lucas Maethger, PCA chair of Fashion Design. The college, its culture, and address all felt like a custom fit.
Capping it all off, Reyes said: 鈥淟ucas has connections to work in Fashion Week in Paris. That鈥檚 an opportunity I couldn't pass up.鈥�
For a preview of what Reyes鈥� design eye will bring to future fashion, catch an exhibition of her creations at 大秀直播鈥檚 Annual Fashion Show, starting at 8:30 p.m. May 16 in the Visual Arts Building. The show is held in conjunction with West Valley鈥檚 three-day STEAM鈥橠 Fest, highlighting graduating students鈥� work from across the Cilker School of Art and Design and the School of Science and Math.