Fashion design grad to appear in new reality TV series, uses talent to aid military families

Liberty University graduate and fashion designer Melissa Breaux (’15) will be featured in a new reality TV docuseries, “Rising Fashion,” scheduled to launch in April on Amazon Prime and Roku.

The new show captures the drama of backstage and the runway during fashion shows. Breaux participated in the taping of two shows during New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in February, which will be part of the series.

Breaux called the experience “a little surreal.” She met her models for the first time when she got to New York, and she said many of the models were only put into the garments moments before they walked the runway.

As a young girl, Breaux dreamed of being a fashion designer, hand-sewing her own Barbie clothes. As an adult, she put fashion on hold to serve in the U.S. Navy and then to homeschool her four children. Breaux later pursued a business management degree through Liberty University Online Programs and eventually moved to Lynchburg to enroll in Liberty’s residential program in fashion merchandising. As she approached her final year at Liberty, a new degree program launched and she became the first graduate of the new B.S. in Fashion — Fashion Design.

Breaux draws a lot of her inspiration for her designs from personal experience. While a student, she won an international design award for a “green” dress she made out of upcycled materials — garbage bags and soda can tabs. The idea came from a mission trip to Nicaragua, where she saw houses made from garbage bags. Breaux wanted to bring awareness to the poverty there, so she used the bags as the “fabric,” interweaving it through soda can tabs.

Breaux said it takes at least six months to design and create a collection of 10 to 12 outfits.

“We’re supposed to be good stewards of the Earth, so I like more sustainable materials,” she said, adding that she loves to work with Bamboo fabric because of its softness, but also uses other natural fabrics.

Her passion for fashion and design has also led her to help others. With her and her husband’s military backgrounds, Breaux’s new labor of love is to design custom bags for children of fallen service members, using material from the parent’s uniform.

Breaux is also in the beginning stages of starting a nonprofit that will send new clothes to the mission field. She is considering poorer countries like Burundi and Guatemala as she prays for God’s direction in this endeavor.

“I want to work with missionaries and have them say to the people they minister to, ‘Hey, Jesus loves you, and here are some brand new clothes.”

She would also like to provide sewing lessons for those rescued out of human trafficking and for mothers in poverty, so they can learn a skill to sell products to provide for themselves and their families.

Following her success at New York Fashion Week and the upcoming TV series, Breaux received an invitation to present in a London fashion show, she was unable to attend with the quick turnaround. She was also asked to take part in Los Angeles Fashion Week this month, but the event was postponed because of COVID-19. Pending continual COVID-19 restrictions, Breaux is planning to present in several other fashion shows later this year.

Regarding her personal aspirations to create her own fashion line someday and continue to help others through her talents, Breaux said enthusiastically, “I serve a big God!”