Don’t be fooled by her sweet and innocent look– this PYT is not only charming, but also highly driven. With a new clothing line, and as photographer Bruce Weber’s fresh young muse for his Italian Vogue editorial spreads, she is ready to take on the world with her rebellious ways…

Meet Justine Crawford, a spunky 16 year-old from Brooklyn, New York who took up the reigns as the non-conformist of her traditional all girls school, and created a clothing line based on a fictional academy of misfits, rejects, and castaways. Her new clothing line, which launched this past September, is called “Academy for Wayward Girls” and isn’t made for the cheerleaders or Homecoming Queens at school– no, no, no… This season, she has created some limited edition pieces for her fellow misfits, who are all about altering their school uniforms in order to show off their creative and independent spirit.

BV: How would you describe your collection for those who aren’t familiar with your work?
JC: The collection is a kind of Thom Brown School Days/Abercrombie & Fitch meets Punk! I am also inspired by Victorian looks as well as with influences from the 1940-1960′s. I also love false eyelashes and French lingerie!

BV: Is it difficult to juggle your time with working on your clothing line, as well as keeping up with the usual rigors of High School?
JC: Right now it feels quite manageable because my school lets out early on Wednesdays to accommodate internships. Last year, I interned for a small children’s wear company where I made patterns and sewed samples for production. This year, I work for myself. I produce a collection of limited additions, not a collection per season. I am more interested in building my brand slowly. I am also developing a series of short stories/digests that will be turned into a web series. My approach is very holistic, and not limited to garments.

BV: Do your friends model your clothing at school?
JC: No. I don’t talk very much about my collection at school. My pieces are too expensive for my peers. I would be embarrassed for them to find out how expensive my pieces are.

BV: Are some of your peers jealous of your success?
JC: I think so. That’s one of the reasons I don’t discuss it in school. They don’t get it, and I don’t need the distraction.

BV: Where do you do all the work for your clothing line?
JC: When I am working on my collection I sew at home, and at my family’s house in Maryland. I do business and have meetings and shoots at my parent’s studio in DUMBO. My father is an architect and my mother is a photographer and director. It is very spacious in my parent’s studio and the atmosphere encourages creativity and productivity. We have theatre, film, and other artist neighbors and friends that use the space as well.

BV: What do you wear when you go out?
JC: Jeans most of the time, paired with vintage, my own designs, t-shirts from my older brother, King, and my spectator sneakers. I also raid my mother’s closet. She was a model in the 80′s, a stylist for 20 years – as a result, she has an amazing collection of clothes!

BV: Would you consider yourself to be a bit dark?
JC: Maybe a little. No more dark than say the Brothers Grimm.

BV: Where did you get the idea to paint on your shoes?
JC: Saul Steinberg (renown for the covers and drawings that appeared in The New Yorker.)

BV: I see your shirt, it says “Abe is a Babe…”
JC: My friends and I love Abe Lincoln!

BV: What is the price range for your collection?
JC: The prices are $50.00- $1000.00.

BV: Where are you selling at right now?
JC: I sell directly from my web-site.

BV: Is it difficult being so young in an industry which seems is meant only for “the big dogs” to play in?
JC: I don’t have the pressures the big dogs have. I have not set myself up to need investors right now. I don’t have their overhead, and I am not trying to wholesale. I am happy to develop my brand, fill fewer orders at a price that won’t put me in the hole. I am not trying to sell to the masses.

BV: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
JC: I see myself collaborating with and learning from people I admire, and sharing my creativity with peolple that get it and benefit from it.