Houston City College fashion design student packs bags, passport for Paris internship

Thomas Eggleston Wooldridge never imagined someone like him, who grew up in the “middle-of-nowhere-country” in Lynchburg, Virginia, would one day leave the United States.

He recalled that in high school, only one or two classmates expressed a desire to study abroad, something that felt impossible for him due to his family’s financial situation.

“We were very poor,” Eggleston Wooldridge shared. “My parents did everything they could to support me and the activities I wanted to do in school.”

Now living in Houston and attending Houston City College (HCC), the 32-year-old fashion design student is preparing for the biggest trip of his life to Paris, France.

In April, during the Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas 58th Annual Scholarship Competition, he earned the Paris American Academy Couture Award for his black tie and bridal collection. He became the first non-senior student to win the award.

After receiving the $10,500 scholarship prize, he called his mother, Tammy Eggleston, with the exciting news.

“I won, and she's like, ‘What did you win?’” he said, keeping her in suspense. “I said, ‘Paris mama, I'm going to Paris.’  And she goes, ‘Texas?’”

Eggleston Wooldridge will arrive in Europe on June 29 at the famed Paris American Academy, a world-class institution known for educating international students in fashion, interior design, fine arts and creative writing.

 “Outside of Milano [Italy], this is a fashion designer’s dream,” he said. “This is an amazing opportunity, not just to learn about fashion, but also to learn about French culture.”

At age six, Eggleston Wooldridge’s grandmother, Barbara ‘Nana’ Eggleston, taught him how to sew, crochet and knit. At the time, he focused on small projects, such as pillows. As an adult, he used his those sewing skills to create fabric props for marching band color guards in North Carolina and Ohio.

He moved to Houston in 2018 and spent four years as a color guard director at James E. Taylor High School in Katy. Although he had an associate degree from Virginia Western Community College, he considered attending the University of Houston but realized he did not want a career in digital communications.

In 2025, he enrolled at HCC to merge his love for his “Nana,” who passed away in 2022, and his passion for creating garments for color guard and performance art shows.

“During my first class, Ready-to-Wear and Design Construction with Professor Bridget Fizer, she made everything so easy to understand and fun,” Eggleston Wooldridge said. “I was hungry to learn and absorbed as much information as possible from all my instructors.”

Fizer sensed on the very first day of class that he was deeply grounded in his craft.

“It was not because he tried to impress anyone, but because of the way he engaged—with curiosity, insight, and thoughtful questions that elevated the classroom experience for everyone,” Fizer explained. “He cared deeply about every stage of the creative process and welcomed guidance because he wanted to ensure that his execution matched his vision. He possesses not only the technical skill, but also the heart, discipline, and dedication needed to represent Houston City College with distinction in competition and beyond.”

Prior to the FGI Dallas competition, Fizer encouraged him to step forward and embrace the challenge—not only for the possibility of winning, but for the lessons that come from the full experience of competing.

As a gay man, his designs, entirely in black, are inspired by LGBTQ+ culture and nightlife.

“I really wanted to create a collection that was inspired by being closeted,” he said. “In our world, we call it like ‘DL’ or ‘down low,’ for the ones who are not ready to accept themselves for who really they are.”

Over the past year, Eggleston Wooldridge has garnered multiple awards. With one year left in the program, he remains focused on his long-term goals—expanding his black-tie and evening wear and continue making his mother proud.

“She's just really happy that I'm having a good time and that I'm able to express myself creatively,” he said. “I am the person I am today because of her. She pushed me to go experience the world because she was never able to. And now I am.”