After earning her degree in Visual Art, Carrie continued to pursue a creative career and graduated from the fashion design program at Fanshawe College. Her love of all things girly led her to specialize in creating lingerie. She has made her mark in the industry as a creative consultant for licensed lingerie brands, but is best known for outfitting some of today’s most exciting burlesque performers. Presently Carrie showcases her vintage inspired lingerie creations in several specialty boutiques.
Sherri Gallagher
Sherri has worked in Fashion and Costume design during the past decade. She studied Fashion Design at Fanshawe College. Since then has spent many years studying the techniques of fine sewing, under master tailors and seamstresses she’s worked alongside. Sherri has worked for the Stratford Theatre as a costume sewer, where she had the opportunity to craft 1920′s era women’s wear costumes for the production of ‘ West Side Story’, and beautiful Grecian boudoir pieces for ‘A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum’ playbills. Sherri now spends most of her time working for a well known Mascot company called ‘BAM’ Mascots. She’s a costume cutter and sewer there; Fabricating one of a kind mascot characters and their costumes!
Immediately following her graduation from the Fashion Arts program at Seneca College, Karine got her first job as a pattern-maker. Little did she know that this job would be a stepping stone to an exciting and fruitful career in fashion! In just couple of years, Karine transitioned from pattern-maker to fashion designer, and was eventually hired on the role of Fashion Director for one of Canada’s leading retail houses. With over 15 years of experience in the fashion world, Karine has gained proficiency in many aspects of design including illustration, pattern making, draping and construction. Presently she is running her own fashion design studio which specializes in custom sewing. After joining the team at Sew Be It Studio, Karine discovered with delight that she also has a passion and talent for teaching!
Josette Luyckx
Art Wear artist/designer, Josette Luyckx holds a degree in fashion design from Ryerson University. Designing for over 20 years, with the last 12 years collaborating with weaver Marie Payne producing their unique line of limited edition or one-of-a-kind MarieJosette wearable art jackets, shawls and scarves for women. Josette’s inspiration for new work is Marie’s handwoven fabrics. Each new fabric chanllanges her through the design and construction of new pieces. Josette is also a founding member of the ArtWear Network.
Michelle Maynard studied Apparel Design at the University of Manitoba and continued her education in Fashion Design at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. She has been sewing & dressmaking for over 20 years and has worked in the fashion industry for 5 years. Her industry experience included a position as head designer for a Montreal denim brand where she also directed all aspects of fit & garment construction for the label and dealt with overseas production. Michelle is now the founder and designer of her own clothing label – named after her grandmother, Simone’s Rose is an eco-friendly, contemporary women’s wear label that is chic, modern & romantic.
www.simonesrose.com
Monica is a third year Fashion Design student at Ryerson University and a graduate of the Fashion Design program at LaSalle College, Montreal, QC. For the past 5 years her studies have focused on women’s apparel. She is not afraid to try new materials and designs and develop patterns to showcase a new kind of fashion. Monica’s designs have been showcased in fashion competitions including Montreal Fashion Week 2008 for the Télio competition. During the summer of 2009, she worked with one of the best fashion designer in Montreal, Denis Gagnon to prepare his spring 2010 collection. This winter 2010, she was the costume designer for a short movie: Banana Girls, presented at The Royal cinema, Toronto. Monica was one of the chosen designer to t exhibit two multifunctional fur accessories for the NAFA competition at NAFFEM (the luxury outwear show) at Place Bonaventure, Montreal. Monica is thrilled to be part of the Sew Be It team!
Sarah holds a BFA in Theatre Design from York University, and has studied men’s tailoring at the Banff Centre for the Arts. She ahs worked as a costume and set designer for many shows in the Toronto area over the last 10 years, and has been a part of wardrobe teams for The Banff Centre for the Arts, The Alberta Ballet, The Canadian Opera Company, and Mirvish Seamless Costumes. In addition to her work as a costume designer and seamstress, Sarah works in set and interior design, where she has supervised the outfitting and design ofseveral housing projects, including two private cottages for the Canadian comedian Jim Carey. She maintains private mentorship program in Arts, Design, and Professional development in theatre and fashion, and takes private tailoring contracts. Sarah met Dilys while working on the world premier of the Lord of The Rings, and the rest is history.
After studying in New York, Paris, and Florence, Tarah returned to Toronto with a BA in Costume Design from the London College of Fashion, and a AA in International Fashion Design from FIT. Tarah has had a wonderful career that has allowed her to work in many different areas of costume and fashion design. She has designed and worked on numerous theatre, film and television productions in Canada, the United States and England. As well as her career as a costume designer, Tarah maintains a very successful contract business working with private clients as well as large corporate contracts. Tarah’s love of all areas of fashion has encouraged her to explore all aspects of the fashion industry. She has worked as a costume designer, fashion designer (couture and ready to wear), photo and personal stylist, seamstress and pattern maker, merchandiser,and fashion marketing consultant and product designer.
Vanessa has had a love for fashion for as long as she can remember. This love for fashion flourished into a love of design when she designed her own prom dress. Since then, Vanessa has graduated from the George Brown college Fashion techniques and design program and moved on to work for Canadian bridal designer RIVINI who’s gowns are carried throughout Canada and the United States. She now enjoys creating custom one-of-a-kind pieces for various clients from all walks of life. Her current focus is creating her own fashion line of Ready- to-wear Women and Menswear.
