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35 FALL 2024 "It really opened up a world to me," she says. At school, she was often asked what she wanted to do after graduation. "I said I wanted to be a relevant designer," she says. "I didn't know exactly what the answer meant. But I wondered, 'Why am I getting to fulfill my dream fantasy at my age?' I knew there must be a reason." The meaning became clear during a midseason Project Runway challenge when she designed a gown and matching train for Tatyana McFadden, the fastest female wheelchair racer in the world and most decorated Paralympian, who lives with spina bifida. "It was like the universe put me there to design for Tatyana," Volpe Beringer says. These days, Volpe Beringer hopes her work with The Vault will inspire similar efforts among designers to make sustainable and adaptive fashion a priority. "To be honest, I don't want to be the future of fashion," she says. "I want to be the designer for now." ■ Fashion sense To build sustainable fashion habits, follow Nancy Volpe Beringer's example. REWEAR YOUR CLOTHES: Don't worry, "Oh, I just wore this." Wear it again. GO THRIFTING: I like oversized jackets. I found a men's sport jacket for $1. That makes me feel good. WEAR WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD: Stop worrying so much about what other people think. Liz Leyden is a writer and dedicated thrifter. Her best find: A Comme des Garçons dress for $10. Nancy Volpe Beringer at home in her thrift-shop outfit.

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