Stitching Faith into Fashion

August 17, 2026 Guest Contributor

Aja Cohen: "Transcendent Active is more than a brand. It’s a reflection of my entire journey -- fashion, faith, movement, motherhood, identity." (Provided photo)

By Aja Cohen

It all started in sixth grade. I was sitting in home economics class when my teacher, Mrs. Sauer, announced our big sewing project.

My mind immediately spiraled. Sewing? With a needle? What if I poke myself? What if I bleed? I knew this was not for me. But I didn’t have a choice; the project determined our final grade.

Mrs. Sauer held up the assignment: boxer shorts. It was the ‘90s and kids back then were wearing them over jeans, showing off wild patterns and personality. I thought they were a fashion disaster.

But in that moment, something clicked. I walked up to Mrs. Sauer and said, “I’m not making the shorts. I’m making a dress.” She paused, intrigued. She was in.

That afternoon, my Gram drove me to the fabric store, where I picked the loudest neon geometric print I could find and finished it with a black feather boa trim. I worked on it for hours at my Gram’s table in the basement. To my surprise, I loved it. I was good at it.

Presentation day came. The room was filled with variations of the same boxer shorts, and then there was my dress. Bold. Different. Unapologetically me.

That moment shaped everything. I realized early on I didn’t have to follow the pattern. I could create my own, and I never stopped.

I went on to design costumes in high school, then studied fashion at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. During my freshman year, another pivotal moment happened.

It was a Monday night. I went out dancing with people, which quickly turned into what felt like a double date. At some point, the guy casually mentioned he was Israeli. I had no idea where Israel was on a map. Trying to sound informed, I blurted out, “Oh … so you speak Yiddish?”

And that’s pretty much how I became Jewish.

What started as a relationship turned into a deep curiosity, and eventually a calling. I grew up in a strong Italian Catholic family in New Jersey, but I never felt fully connected to the religious aspect. Judaism, on the other hand, felt different. It felt like home.

Shabbat dinners reminded me of my upbringing — community, food, laughter —but with a depth and rhythm that grounded me in a new way.

Over time, I converted before I got married. Yes, I traded club nights for candle-lighting. I still love to dance — just on motzei Shabbos now.

Meanwhile, my fashion career was thriving. But eventually, something started to feel off. I was creating constantly, but not always with purpose.

After getting married and having children, I shifted into working for a Shabbat-observant company. It felt more aligned with my life. But one day, I was let go, and honestly, I wasn’t upset. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted to be with my kids more. I wanted to teach yoga. I wanted to create something meaningful, intentional.

One conversation changed everything. A friend told me, “Design something for your community. Something that serves a purpose.” Weeks passed until one day I saw it clearly.

I was living in a Jewish community surrounded by women who valued modesty and physical movement, but what they were wearing didn’t reflect that. It looked uncomfortable. It didn’t feel elevated. I knew I could do this better.

That idea fully crystallized for me one morning while hiking and davening in Maine’s Acadia National Park. My community wasn’t just one thing, but two worlds coming together: Jewish women and the fitness community. Women who wanted to move, sweat, live actively, but do it in alignment with their values.

That’s where my clothing brand Transcendent Active was born. I got my first prototype. I wore it everywhere — on runs, to yoga class, to the store, to the pool. It felt light. Effortless. Comfortable. But more than that, it changed how I felt in my body. I felt more confident, grounded and less exposed.

That’s when I understood that modesty isn’t about restriction but intention. It’s about choosing how I show up in the world. It’s about creating space for confidence that comes from within.

In August of 2020, I launched the brand with one piece: the All Day Active Skirt in black. From there the business grew. But more importantly, I grew. Running became a form of prayer for me. What started as a few miles turned into training for a half-marathon at 40. It reminded me that both body and soul are capable of so much more than we think.

Today, Transcendent Active is more than a brand. It’s a reflection of my entire journey — fashion, faith, movement, motherhood, identity. It’s about creating something different when the standard doesn’t feel right. It’s about choosing intention over expectation. It’s about becoming.

My journey has not been one big leap but small, consistent steps. Letting go. Growing. Realigning. Becoming more intentional with each stage. I didn’t arrive fully formed. I’m still counting. Still building.

Freedom is just the beginning. What you build after, that’s where the meaning lives.

Hashem has a beautiful sense of humor. He took all my worlds — the Italian, the Jewish, the creative, the restless — and wove them into one story.

My story. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A resident of Teaneck, New Jersey, Aja Cohen is founder and chief creative officer of Transcendent Active, a modest activewear brand.