Helen Castillo began her fashion education at just 13 years old at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she later earned her BFA in Special Occasion Design and Couture Studies in 2012. She honed her craft through internships with renowned designers such as Vera Wang and Vivienne Westwood in London, and soon after gained national attention as a finalist on Project Runway Season 12 and Project Runway All Stars Seasons 4 and 6.

Her couture work has graced red carpets and live performances, including custom designs for singer Mary Lambert’s 54th Grammy appearance, in collaboration with stylist B. Akerlund. Following this exposure, Helen was personally recruited by Zac Posen to join his design team. In 2016, she opened her atelier in New York City's Garment District, where she creates bespoke bridal, eveningwear, and red carpet gowns for a global clientele.

Helen's reach extends beyond fashion design. In 2018, she collaborated with Cirque du Soleil’s Blue Man Group on a costume design available to the public, and was featured on the cover and in a full spread of The Digest magazine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed the full curriculum for Mood Fabrics’ educational platform ‘MoodU,’ where she taught over 700 international students in draping, pattern making, and garment construction.

She also contributed to her local Union City community by developing the Fashion Design and Apparel curriculum for the high school’s Career and Technical Education department. After completing her Master’s in Education at New Jersey City University in 2022, Helen began teaching at both FIT and Montclair State University, where she continues to mentor emerging designers while actively designing from her NYC studio.