For Nina Echevarria, this work didn’t begin as a business idea, but rather as something far more personal. After more than two decades in the design industry — from the Bronx to international production rooms — Nina had already built a career that spanned design, manufacturing, and brand management. She had the experience, the network, and the technical expertise that many spend years trying to access.
In July 2025, Nina lost her father to kidney failure — the same father who had first introduced her to the fashion industry and supported her throughout her career. That loss reshaped not only how she saw her work, but what she wanted it to stand for. Nina describes her business as having been “born from this intersection of ‘pain and purpose’…[because] my father was my primary supporter who led me to the fashion industry; after his passing, I decided to turn my grief into a legacy for the youth.”
That decision became the foundation for Meli Micah Design Studio — a community-rooted initiative focused on giving young creators access to something most aspiring designers never fully receive: a complete understanding of how creativity translates into real opportunity.
Through a hybrid curriculum that blends hands-on design with business education, Nina is helping students move beyond raw talent and into real-world application. She told us, “we offer a unique, hybrid curriculum that fuses hands-on design from concept to completion with essential business acumen…[and] our mission is to transform ‘creative sparks’ into tangible, professional career paths for students in grades 7–12.”
For Nina, this work is deeply tied to the belief that access — to knowledge, to systems, to opportunity — changes everything. By teaching students the full lifecycle of design, from ideation to monetization, she’s creating a pathway that many young creatives, especially in underserved communities, rarely get to see.
At the same time, her story is also one of profound personal giving — not just in her work, but in her life.
“I am a person who believes in the power of giving, quite literally; I am a living organ donor, having donated my kidney to my partner,” Nina said. That perspective — shaped by loss, generosity, and lived experience — is woven into everything she builds. She continued, “I want to show my students what ‘pain to purpose’ and ‘tragedy to victory’ look like by giving them every tool I’ve acquired in my 25-year journey.”
Here’s more about what Nina shared with us about her business and the mission behind her work.
How is your business creating impact?
NE: We are actively fostering economic change from within the communities we serve. Meli Micah Design Studio is partnering with NYC PS schools, ModSchool, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to reach students across the five boroughs and outskirts of NYC. By providing industry-level knowledge like technical package creation and collection development we are helping youth build sustainable careers and legacies. Our goal is to serve as a community anchor that doesn’t just inspire creativity but provides the vocational training necessary for true self-reliance.
What’s something you’re proud of as a business owner?
NE: A major highlight for me was being featured as the “Feature of the Month” in Women’s Empire Inc., which provided a wonderful platform to share my mission. I have also had the opportunity to promote the studio on two different podcasts, helping to build our brand’s voice in the creative education space. Operationally, creating a comprehensive 3-tier curriculum that spans from basic fundamentals to advanced collection production.
What’s your deeper “why”?
NE: My “why” is rooted in the powerful intersection of pain and purpose. I founded Meli Micah Design Studio because I saw firsthand how much raw talent is lost simply because aspiring young designers lack access to practical, industry-specific knowledge. Having spent over 25 years in the fashion industry, I realized that while many programs teach artistic skills, they often fail to connect those skills to real-world business realities. This business is my commitment to using my experience and network to ensure the next generation has the tools to build their own sustainable legacies.
What drives me is the memory of my father, who passed away in July 2025. He was my number one supporter in my youth and the person who led me toward a career in fashion. By turning my grief into a mission for the youth, I am showing my students what it looks like to move from “hurt to harmony”. I do what I do because I believe creativity is a direct path to confidence, self-reliance, and economic independence. I am driven to provide a nurturing environment where young people can discover their potential, learn the intricacies of design, and confidently step into their futures.
What’s the big vision for your business?
My big vision is to establish a permanent, fully equipped physical studio that serves as a vibrant community anchor in New York City. I don’t just want a classroom; I am building a “second home” for my students a sanctuary where they feel safe to fail, free to create, and empowered to lead. Within the next 3-5 years, I see Meli Micah Design Studio evolving into a premier creative hub that earns national recognition for its ability to launch careers and cultivate new brands from the ground up. I envision a space where the cycle of poverty is broken by the power of a tech pack and a business plan. Ultimately, I want to create a self-sustaining ecosystem that sparks profound economic change, proving to every student who walks through our doors that their imagination is the most valuable currency they own.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given, and what would you tell another business owner?
“If you build it, they will come.” But the message behind that is about intentionality. It means if you build a foundation with integrity, deep expertise, and a genuine heart for service, the community and the customers will find you. You should pay attention to this because, in the early days of a business, it’s easy to get distracted by “noise.” If you focus on the quality of your “build” your curriculum, your mission, and your “why” the growth becomes a natural byproduct of your excellence.
A successful businesswoman once told me, “With persistence, you will persevere.” She taught me not to judge my success by the first few years, but to look at the long term and always bet on myself, because if you don’t believe in your vision, no one else will.
- Book every business owner should read: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries (or Profit First by Mike Michalowicz).
- Your go-to podcast(s): The Ghetto Runways Podcast. It is an incredible platform that highlights the intersection of urban culture, high fashion, and the raw reality of the industry, giving a voice to designers who are often overlooked by the mainstream.
- Most unhinged thing you’ve done in the name of business: I used my entire personal savings to seed and support the launch of Meli Micah because I believed in the mission that much.
- Fun fact: I wrote a children’s book title, “My Monster is My Friend”. It was never published. The book was written in memory of my dad (Pedro Echevarria)
Nina Echevarria is a seasoned designer and entrepreneur with over 25 years of industry experience. From the Bronx to international production rooms, her career has spanned design, manufacturing, and brand management for major retailers. Driven by a mission to bridge the gap between creative passion and economic independence, she founded Meli Micah Design Studio. Nina leverages her extensive network and technical expertise to empower middle and high school students, teaching them the “full life cycle” of design to build sustainable, self-reliant futures.
