Ebony Pratt, a fashion entrepreneur from North Philadelphia, is the creator behind the Fashion Retail & Style Institute in Kensington, writes Michaela Althouse for PhillyVoice.

Pratt defined her personal style at the age of 15, when she cut off her long hair, bleached the remains, and dyed it a multitude of bright colors. That helped her stand out as other recognized her for her unique look.

“I started feeling good about myself, because I started expressing myself and that’s where I started it,” said Pratt. “Then I started developing my own personal style and loving it.”

That, coupled with her love of clothes, led her to work as a personal shopper during high school and beyond. Pratt has also worked in the world of pop-up shops, boutiques, design and real estate before creating Fashion Dealer Society, her e-commerce styling business.

Her decades-long career has served as the impetus of her newest venture.

The Fashion Retail & Style Institute is a 12-week, 240-hour program for people looking to launch careers in the clothing industry. Students will learn about merchandising, entrepreneurship and other fashion-related topics.

“I’m focusing on the art of the sell of fashion, as far as retail goes,” said Pratt.

Read more about the entrepreneur and concept behind Fashion Retail & Style Institute in PhillyVoice.

_____

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in December 2024.