While some take a risky leap into the New York fashion industry, Liz Carvalho decided to build a foundation for her “passion” in Westchester County.

The Hastings resident earned her associate degree in fashion merchandising at Westchester Community College earlier this year before entering Manhattan’s Fashion Institute of Technology this fall.

“If I didn’t go to WCC before FIT, I wouldn’t have the same feel as when I’m designing today,” she said. “You’ve got to know how to sell your product. You can be the best designer, but if you don’t know how to put your product on the market, you won’t achieve your goal.”

Photo: Liz Carvalho (right) works with a model on the set.

Carvalho, 21, credits courses in advertising and marketing at WCC for helping her create an image of her target market when she designs. She said a fashion industry course by Phyllis Fein, an enthusiastic WCC Professor, completely opened her eyes to the industry since it was her first formal training.

The Brazilian native, who moved to Westchester a decade ago, said she was influenced as a child by watching her grandmother sew garments. She also counts her mother, a painter, as an inspiration.

Carvalho began sketching and sewing while attending Hastings High School. She caught the attention of a fashion photographer and ever since has done freelance styling for models, some represented by the renowned agencies Ford and Wilhelmina.

Last November, Carvalho displayed a 15-piece collection made of recycled products in an exhibit titled “The Art of Global Warming” at the New Century Artists Gallery in Chelsea.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree, Carvalho said she wants to gain experience by working at a big fashion house and create her own line.

For more information on Liz Carvalho, visit her website.

For more information about the Westchester Community College Fashion Merchandising Program, visit http://www.sunywcc.edu/dep/fashion/

Photos courtesy of Liz Carvalho.