CLEVELAND — On the eve of the Dress to Impress fashion show, artist and designer TJ Sikora was filled with anticipation.
“I am nervous and anxious, but when I did see it all together, it did shock me that it really came to life as I had it in my brain and in my sketchbook,” Sikora said at the show’s dress rehearsal.
Sikora is one of the designers for this year’s “Dress to Impress” fashion show, a fashion show where the outfits are primarily made of paper.
The event serves as a fundraiser for the Morgan Conservatory, a nonprofit that, in part, teaches papermaking.
“There is a limitation of what the paper can do, but that limitation allows people to come to new explorations,” explained Nicole Donnelly, the executive director of the Morgan Conservatory.
During the search for designers, the conservancy reached out to the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, who connected them with Sikora, an artist who typically works as an illustrator and painter. Sikora said the challenge of a new medium enticed them.
“And not just have paper be something that’s a canvas, but something that can create shape and form and become an ensemble that somebody could wear,” Sikora said.
The fashion show gave Sikora a chance to continue their advocacy for the disabled community.
“It was intended for someone in a wheelchair to wear,” Sikora explained.
They found the perfect model in his longtime friend, Alexandra Martinez.
“I think fashion should take a page out of TJ’s book and work with people with disabilities,” said Martinez, who also advocates for disability rights and was recently named Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2025.
“I’m very excited about working with a dress that’s paper, but I’m also nervous that I’m going to rip something,” Martinez said while laughing.
“I did create this hood and the sleeves that are oversized to create accessibility for anyone with a disability that gets affected by the sunlight,” Sikora explained.
The earthy tones of the outfit evoke nature.
“My advocacy with teaching about disabilities is reminding people that disabilities are just as natural as anything else. It may be uncommon or may be a hiccup in certain genetics that things happen and create different forms of a person, but it's still just as natural as anything else in the world,” Sikora said.
On the night of the fashion show, Sikora saw their vision come alive in front of a cheering audience.
A team effort to create a one-of-a-kind show.
“I'm so proud of TJ. I just love (them) so much. I think this work is beautiful, and I’m so honored to be here,” Martinez said.
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