Choosing the right prom dress is a big decision, but one teenager decided to take a very different approach by making her own one-of-a-kind gown instead.
Over the last four years, Jariatu Jah, 17, has developed a love for crocheting and she’s spent time honing her craft. In the past, she focused on making plushies and bags, but in December 2024, she was struck by a genius idea.
While discussing her upcoming junior prom with a friend, Jah, of Virginia, contemplated how amazing it would be to design and make her own dress. She told Newsweek that she’s “always loved going all out,” and this was a surefire way to create some individuality.
The teenager started by sketching out the bodice of the dress and then worked through each section until she was happy that “everything fit perfectly.” Of course, it wasn’t without its challenges, but Jah spent around a month piecing it all together until the orange prom dress was finally complete.
“Choosing orange was intentional because it complimented my skin tone beautifully,” Jah said. “This project required patience, but seeing it come together was incredibly rewarding.
“I kept overthinking whether the bodice was too loose or if adding a mesh overlay would ruin the look. Thankfully, taking pictures of my progress helped me stay motivated, and my fashion teacher encouraged me throughout the process.”
The finished design was a midi dress made out of yarn that featured a sequin covered bodice which flowed into a pattern of mesh and sequins below.
Needless to say, Jah couldn’t have been prouder of her masterpiece.
She said: “I felt so relieved and amazed. It looked stunning, and it became one of the best things I’ve ever created. Seeing it on the mannequin in my fashion class confirmed that I had truly accomplished something special.”
Getting to wear her own creation to junior prom was a moment she’ll never forget. She told Newsweek that it “was surreal” to receive so many compliments and questions about her handiwork.
Indeed, many teachers told her she has a career in the making already, which left her smiling all night.
“This was the first dress I’ve ever made, so it marked a major milestone for me. It was something no one else could replicate, and I felt confident knowing I created something truly unique,” Jah continued.
The teenager shared her design on TikTok (@jarrriatu) and social media users were stunned by her talents. One of the videos about how Jah “crocheted [her] own prom dress” has gone viral with more than 19.4 million views and over 3.9 million likes at the time of writing.
It’s entirely made out of yarn + love #promdress #prom #crochet #prom2025 #fyp #fypシ #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp
The online reaction is beyond anything Jah anticipated, and now, her family friend, Mubarak Oyegunle, 25, has even taken up the role of her social media manager. Oyegunle has seen Jah’s skills develop over the years, and he told Newsweek that it was “truly inspiring” to see her take on this big challenge and execute it to perfection.
Her social media presence has grown exponentially in recent days, and he hopes that will only encourage her to push the boundaries even further.
“The support has been fantastic and serves as great motivation for her to continue pursuing her passion,” Oyegunle said. “I’m incredibly proud of Jariatu and know she has a bright future ahead in fashion and entrepreneurship.”
This is only the start for Jah, as she’s already set her sights on what to make for senior prom in 2026.
After taking the internet by storm, her most viral video has amassed over 10,800 comments on TikTok already.
One comment reads: “Keep that dress forever!! Your future child will be wearing that to prom and bragging about their momma.”
Another person wrote: “our jaws DROPPED.”
While another TikTok user added: “Wait OMGG??? I literally thought this was a joke at first but gurlll this is insaneee.”
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