Creating a fashion collection is one of the most exciting parts of being a designer. It’s your chance to tell a story, showcase your creativity, and bring your unique ideas to life. Whether you’re dreaming of a full runway show or just want to make a few standout pieces, building your first collection can feel like a big challenge—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Read moreLeveraging AI in Fashion – Compelling Ways AI Can Be Used in the Fashion Industry
Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized various industries. Let’s explore how AI can reshape creativity, product development, and logistics in the fashion industry. With the growing trend of using AI, fashion designers can leverage their power and enhance their prowess exponentially. Even though designers vary in their use of AI, it holds great power that can reshape fashion as we know it.
Read moreStudent Highlight - Carissa H.
Photography - Katya Kuba
Carissa recently took a series of classes to prepare herself for a graduate program application. She completed her undergrad in another field and has been in the working world but wanted to shift gears into the realm of design. She had a tight deadline and a steep learning curve but really made huge progress over just a couple of months. We are so proud of her and all her hard work! Look what a beautiful dress she made as only her 2nd adult sewing project. Wow! Bravo Carissa - Bellisima!
Read moreUnderstanding Sole Proprietorship in California for Aspiring Fashion Designers
For an aspiring fashion designer, deciding on the right business structure can seem daunting. Yet setting up as a sole proprietorship in California may be simpler than it appears – and serve as a stepping stone to success. As the LLC.org guide: Sole Proprietorship in California shows, a sole proprietorship offers budding fashion entrepreneurs key advantages as well as reasonable legal obligations.
Read moreJobs in Fashion - Product Developer with Chelsea Willingham , Founder of Minka + Coco
I recently spoke with Chelsea Willingham about her job as a Product Developer. Chelsea's journey into design and development traces back to a childhood shopping trip with her mother. During middle school, she vividly described a pair of shoes she wanted, prompting her to sketch them. Her mother's response, 'Those don't exist,' ignited her creative spark. Her master's degree in apparel design, specializing in sustainability, further refined her creativity.
Read morePursuing a Career in Fashion Design for Beginners
Fashion is an ever-evolving industry that encompasses clothing, accessories, jewelry, and more. It is an art form where creativity meets practicality and incorporates the latest trends in design to create new looks.
Read moreThe Business Of Fashion - An Interview with Autumn Adamme of Dark Garden Corsetry
I recently spoke with Autumn Adamme, Founder of Dark Garden Corsetry. Autumn became known as the Godmother of Modern Corsetry after launching Dark Garden in 1989, reviving corsets for a modern body and audience. Growing up on the Renaissance Faire circuit, Autumn made her first corset at 13. Shortly after reaching the age of majority, she turned the crafting of custom corsets and historical ensembles into the groundbreaking business which established many of the techniques and standards observed by corset makers across the world today.
In our discussion you will find out how Autumn as built her business from a semi-solopreneur to a team of 19. We talk about the importance of her amazing team, Tik Tok, having signature offerings and manufacturing in San Francisco. Her ”all-bodies-are beautiful” ethos has created an inclusive and luxe experience for her clientele which gives her an advantage in the corset making business. I so admire Autumn and the business she has created. And I hope you enjoy this interview.
Here are some of my key take aways from my conversation with Autumn:
Read more6 Things You Need to Know When You Are Starting Out as a Designer
Recently I interviewed my friend and colleague, Susan Aplanalp-Weeks. She has had a varied career in the fashion industry and has worn many hats, some of which are Pattern Maker, Designer, Technical Designer, Production Manager and finally Professional Fashion Instructor. Susan Currently teaches Fashion Classes in the Design Department at UC Davis and she's also taught for the California College of the Arts and Otis Design School in Los Angeles. During the interview we discuss what new designers need to know when starting out.
Read moreJobs in Fashion - Fashion Designer
The prevailing stereotype of a fashion designer: design what you love while also wearing cute clothes everyday, bow at the end of the runway show, take a long vacation when it’s over and finally, get your work so famous that it is featured on stars at fancy events. Th
Read moreJobs in Fashion - Techical Designer
A Technical Designer's job is to sit between the Fashion Designer, Merchandiser and Production Manager to make a garment fit the customer that the merchandiser is targeting, adhering to the designer's original vision, while also producing it at the right price. This is usually done remotely by sending communications overseas to agents and factories.
Read more5 reasons why it's Important to Cultivate your Sewing Skills when studying Fashion Design
I've been sewing now for more than 40 years (yikes!) Starting at age seven and sewing ever since. All that practice informed the way I understand how clothing gets made. Spending years reading patterns, prepared me for design school and I was much more SEWING-ABLE than many of my peers. Here are 5 reasons why it's crucial to get this skill cultivated early:
Read moreThe Top Four Crucial Skills to Have When Designing a Fashion Collection
Designing your own fashion collection can be very exciting. Putting your big ideas out into the world is amazing. But what happens when it doesn’t go exactly as planned? Your pattern maker didn’t understand your sketch and your samples turned out wonky or the factory made decisions counter to your ideas. Being a designer is hard sometimes! But it doesn’t have to be hard, if you know a thing or two about how the manufacturing process works & how to communicate properly with your team even if it’s just your mom sewing up or helping to sew up your designs.
Read moreInterview with Tayma Martins - Designer and Sewing Room Student
Designer Tayma Martins has been working with instructor, Christine Knobel for the last while. Christine and I were really impressed with her drive and work ethic and have both fallen in love with the nostalgic chic of her fashion collection. We hope you enjoy this interview with this budding designer
Read moreFashion Illustration - Interview with artist Velicia Gourdin
Recently, our very own Julie Ann Brown reached out to fashion illustrator artist Velicia Gourdin for an interview. She asked ten great questions. We hope you enjoy Velicia’s answers and her AMAZING illustrations below. She is such a talented artist and illustrator!
Read moreFashion Studies: Student Update - Kelly
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 moreFashion Careers: What is a Fashion Designer?
When 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 more5 simple ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable
So 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 moreHow Our Clothing Gets Made
How 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.
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