8th grade Fashion Studies Student Kelly H. has been coming up with amazing designs over the Fall and Spring. In the fall, Kelly draped a bodice and skirt and then created flat patterns from the drape. She also learned out to use a block or sloper to create the dress she's wearing. The embroidery she's holding is based off an illustration she created for the the dress she's wearing.
Read MoreIf you are up for any sewing project, then you better gather some ideas about threads. There are tons of different threads on the market, but you have to pick the one that is most suitable for your project. Threads are long interlocking fibers (natural or synthetic), which can be used for multiple purposes. Sewing threads are exclusively produced to fit needles and make stitches.
Read MoreWhen I was growing up, all I wanted was, to become a FASHION DESIGNER. I wanted the glamorous life of being famous as well as the daily activity of making clothing that started out in my mind and then became a physical garment. I think that’s what most people think of when they think of a fashion designer. In reality, the glamorous life of a fashion designer is few and far between. That kind of designer is the one that many of us all look up to, but isn’t the actual job that most designers have.
Read MoreThis is the start of a new blog series about Fashion Careers. I’m starting with Pattern Making or Pattern Maker, because that’s the job I’m most familiar with . I’ve been pattern making and pattern fixing for the last couple of decades and it’s something that gives me great personal satisfaction as well having been a skill I’ve used to earn a living.
Read MoreSo you want to become a more ethical shopper?
Change isn’t going to happen overnight and the journey ahead isn’t always going to be easy. However, if you make some small changes to your shopping habits, ethical shopping is sure to become second nature and you can feel great about the good you’re doing for the planet (as well as your bank balance).
Here are five simple tips on how to make your wardrobe more sustainable, without compromising style and fashion:
Read MoreThis month we highlight Kelly H. who is one of our Fashion Studies Students. Only 12 years old with a fairly developed sense of style, she is learning the craft of clothes making and cultivating her design skills. She's even doing it with a cast on her RIGHT hand. Yikes! She will be an ambidextrous designer by the end of the school year! That shows a lot of commitment and determination, if you ask me!
Read MoreA lot goes into Starting and Manufacturing a Clothing Line and I love how this spells out each step for our readers.
Read MoreResponsible Fashion is a term presented to me by fellow colleague, Janice Paredes from FIDM (my alma mater). It's a new way to look at Clothing and the Fashion Industry. It's about choosing a responsible way to wear your clothes and a responsible way to spend your money. It involves deeper thinking beyond just looking at the style and price. Responsible Fashion is looking at the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN AND HOW your clothes get made.
Uma started taking classes in Fall and has been sewing up a storm ever since. I love her style and creative enthusiasm. for instance, she wanted to make the Bonjour Teaspoon Lilli Sailor cap but thought it was too pointy, and then thought that the points looked like cat ears. So she was determined to add cat ears and she did it! I also love this amazing camp she designed made while visiting her dad's work, where they have a sample making room. So cool.
Read MoreHow Do our Clothes get made?
Lets's think about this for a minute (or maybe 10). Do you know how your clothing gets made? This is a subject we explore in Sewing Class as often as I can without being too preachy. It often occurs to students after they've sewn a few things for themselves, that the process is not really that easy and that it can take a long time. When the subject is broached about their own clothing, they tell me it's made in a factory and that machines make their clothes. They are often astonished that those very machines are operated by humans, just like themselves. WOW! that's an eye opener.
Read MoreEzra has just started attending our FASHION STUDIES program, but he has already made an impact. I love his creativity and excitement around fashion. As you can see from the photos, he's got his own flair for style. Bravo to his parents Tom and Sarah who clearly see and nurture his creativity.
Read MoreI see a lot of students interested in and auditioning for different Fashion Programs in the Area. Just last year, some of the the programs opened up to incoming middle school students as well as High School students. It's wonderful to have fashion programs in public schools for students passionate about FASHION and MAKING fashion. And, several of my best and brightest students (see above - from left - Nyah, Maya, Me, Lilli & Teyah) have recently graduated from High School and are going on to pursue their college dreams.
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