AKRON, Ohio — Twice a year, New York holds its big Fashion Week, where hundreds of thousands of people come together to experience what’s new in the fashion world and the designers to look out for.
A designer from the Buckeye State is making a second appearance on the runway.
Jazmine Fischer-Veal is an Akron firefighter and paramedic. A job that came her way because her dad saw a job posting sign in a yard and encouraged her to apply. Now six years in, she is still saving lives and fighting fires.
“I’m able to help people,” said Jazmine Fischer-Veal. “I like when people come back and say, ‘Hey, if you weren’t there, I don’t know if I would be here.’ I think that makes this job a calling.”
Before joining the Akron Fire Department, she had been working four jobs in the fashion industry.
“I was doing alterations at a bridal shop and then the dry cleaners when I did all their alterations,” said Veal.
Veal also worked at Urban Loss Prevention where she worked with Selling and Design Concept, an after-school program for children to keep them off the streets and a company called Just Funky where she designed anime wear for Hot Topics, Spencer’s and other stores.
Veal joined the fire department when she was 34.
“I almost turned around because there was nobody there that looked like me,” said Veal. “People had their fire gear on from other departments, but I went ahead and sat down to the test, and three years later they called me back.”
As an older recruit and a Black woman, Veal said her job hasn’t been without its challenges.
“I think the assumption of looking like a woman or being a woman having hair and nails is considered not for this job,” said Veal.
Last year, Veal answered more than 500 calls. She said, right now, this is where she is supposed to be, but she has other dreams, and she works on them during her off time.
“My first week at fashion week, I could not believe I was there,” said Veal. “I thought like a complete dream, and now, the fact that I’m going back, I honestly feel like I am still dreaming.”
Her hard work is paying off. In February, Veal will showcase her latest clothing line at New York Fashion Week.
“The mecca of fashion,” said Veal. “So, Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week. Those are big fashion weeks. When you’re in college, we talk about them, has always been a dream to go.”
New York Fashion Week happens twice a year and is a series of events in New York City where people from the fashion industry from all over the world come together to see the latest fashion collections. The collections are shown through presentations, shows and parties.
Veal’s first appearance at NYFW was in Sept. 2025.
“The first time I went I was ecstatic,” said Veal. “I seeked it myself. I was like I want to go to New York; I want to show in a fashion show. So, I did some research and found some really awesome shows, and that was amazing.”
Veal started sewing when she was 5-years-old. She eventually progressed to making her own clothes.
“I felt like all the clothes that were for bigger girls was like, not cute,” said Veal. “So, my grandma was a seamstress too; she worked at J. C. Penney Drapery she used to give me all her drapery fabric, and I used to make clothing out of drapery fabric.”
Veal has been in the fashion industry for more than 30 years.
Now nearing her 41st birthday, she has marked a big dream off her list that only a select few designers can say they have done.
“Life is short, and you just have to shoot for your dreams, like, so,” said Veal. “Why not? I love fashion. I love it; it’s my passion.”
Veal’s collections will be shown in Unieke Mode’s show at NYFW.
“Jazmine’s contribution brings a fresh, confident energy and style that is necessary to New York Fashion Week,” said Unieke Mode in a statement. “We believe inviting fresh designers to showcase their perspectives through innovation and fashion design keeps the industry fashion-forward by making their presence not just important but very necessary to our community and the future of Unieke Mode NYFW.”
New York Fashion Week will run from Feb. 11 to Feb. 16.
link