UNIVERSITY OF FASHION - Key Persons
Having a deep appreciation for fashion and the relationship it shares with history and art, Abigail Cucolo has been the costume collection manager and fashion historian at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, where she has curated, lectured, organized tours and supervised all aspects of the museum's historic costume collection.
Previously interning at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, and assisting with the collections at Shippensburg University's Fashion Archives and the U.S. Army Heritage and Education center, Abigail has had the opportunity to work with and study a vast array of surviving historic garments.
Andrew Curwen's lessons for University of Fashion demonstrate a designer's respect for Savile Row workmanship. His hand sewn buttonhole lessons are pure works of art.
Andrew is a graduate of Parson's BFA program and currently resides and works in Manhattan. With a background in bespoke construction and textile arts, his introduction to tailoring was taught and nurtured by a master Savile Row tailor.
The disparity between love and death are recurring themes throughout Andrew's design work, something that could be described as a feminine brutality. Andrew works to design fashion for posterity that touches on the human condition.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Designer and Product Developer
Bianca Pettinari is an accessory designer and product developer, who currently works with international brands and manufacturers. Among the name brands that she has designed for are, Theory, Donna Karan and Coach, as well as for private label companies in the U.S. and China.
Having lived and worked in Florence, Italy for two decades, Bianca has had the unique experience of learning from many high-level Italian artisans and designers. She uses her experience, her love of travel and her passion for outdoor sports when designing accessories, for both the luxury and mass market. Bianca is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and contributes lessons in accessory design for the University of Fashion.
Brittney Gray is a 3D Fashion Designer who is passionate about virtual prototyping and sustainability in the Fashion Industry. Graduating Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Brittney received her Bachelor of Science in Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies with a concentration in Apparel Product Design.
During her undergrad, Brittney interned at Walmart Corporate, being the very first 3D Technical Design Intern to join the Fortune 500 Company. Following graduation, she relocated to New York City and assisted various companies on their 3D journey.
The founders of Browzwear have described Brittney as being a "Very driven and motivated young lady with a progressive mindset. Interested not only in Technology for Technology's sake but a keen interest to bring sustainability with the use of digital. She will be an asset for companies embarking on their digital journey."-Lena Lim, CCO at Browzwear
In 1989 Carmen Marc Valvo launch his eponymous label. With only a few thousand dollars, he fearlessly pulled together a collection to show to department and specialty stores at the fall fashion market in New York. His collection was an instant success and was bought by several top stores. But it was his eveningwear, his true passion, which captured the hearts of buyers at both Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
Having established a solid reputation as one of 7th Avenue's most noteworthy independent brands with his Black Label Collection, Carmen launched Carmen Marc Valvo Couture in 1998. After years of working in the Parisian ateliers, Carmen was finally able to truly utilize his skill and experience to create his celebrity clientele the original Carmen Marc Valvo creations that they so desired. Twice each year during New York Fashion Week, Carmen's Couture collection is presented showcasing his extraordinary craftsmanship.
Since then he has been exploring his soul's desire to bring glamorous dressing to every woman's life through his eponymous Collection, whose enchanting designs have become synonymous with grace and refinement. Today his elegant eveningwear collection is a fixture at fine department stores throughout the world. Carmen's label also appears on his highly sought-after clothing and accessory lines - including swimwear, eyewear, footwear and fur, which reflect the designer's artistic sensibility.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Adjunct Instructor at City Tech
Carol Brathwaite is an Adjunct Instructor at City Tech, the New York City College of Technology where she teaches classes in textiles, as well as fashion marketing. Carol spent 10 ½ years as a Senior Technician with Con Edison's Chemical and Environmental Lab in New York, as well as worked in various fashion-marketing positions at Revlon's Product Development & Marketing and at New York Model Management, Inc.
In 2003, Carol graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology summa cum laude. Shortly after, she entered graduate school and obtained an MBA at Nova Southeastern University. In January 2006, Carol began her doctoral studies in Retail Merchandising at Florida State University. During that period, she taught Textiles and Textiles & Apparel in the Global Economy. As a research assistant, she worked with professors on mass customization, consumer behavior and acculturation and assimilation. Although she achieved "doctoral candidate" status, after passing the preliminary evaluations (ABD), Carol placed her doctoral studies on hold to pursue a career in higher education.
Carol has taught courses in Textile Sciences, Global Fashion Economics, International Business, Marketing, International Marketing, Services Marketing, Fashion Merchandise, Retail Buying, Merchandise Planning & Control, and Entrepreneurship.
Corina Gheorghiu has over 20 years of proven experience in the fashion industry. As the founder and operations executive of several apparel ventures, she has been actively involved in all aspects of design and product development, sourcing selection, vendor coordination and quality assurance. Her expertise encompasses woven textiles, knits and leather fashion products.
With extensive practical knowledge of industrial technologies, fabrics and equipment used in the apparel industry, Corina is also skilled at pattern making, garment construction and evaluation skills. In addition, Corina has managed numerous garment and accessories production contracts for the European market and has worked as a fashion project consultant for the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York, NY.
Corina holds a master's degree in architecture from the Architecture Institute Ion Mincu, Bucharest, Romania, and certifications in production and fashion design from West Valley College, Saratoga, California.
Darlene Donohue taught herself to sew while in high school. She later studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City in the AAS and Certificate Programs. She has worked for Anna Sui and Isaac Mizrahi before opening her own custom eveningwear business while raising her two children. Darlene has also created embellished costumes with embroidery and beading for competitive ballroom dancers, which is when her love for hand-work began.
Darlene moved to Hilton Head Island where she worked for Saks Fifth Avenue and became accomplished in hand appliqué quilting. Her quilts are exhibited at National, American and International Quilt Festivals, where they continue to win awards and notoriety for their extraordinary hand stitching. Her work has also been published in numerous magazines, calendars and books.
Upon hearing of her talent for hand sewing, Parsons School of Design recruited her to teach "Couture Design Techniques," which she continues to do today.
Diana Strauss is a New York based accessories and jewelry designer, with over 20 years of industry experience designing for brands and retailers, such as Fossil, Buxton, Field & Stream, Elie Tahari, Ann Taylor, Joan Rivers, Nordstrom and QVC. Diana has also been the creative force behind the luxury home brand, Michael Hero and the new Davidor haute jewelry boutique in Paris. Currently, Diana specializes in men's product, designing bags, travel gear, belts and small leather goods for top names in men's fashion.
Diana's creative career began mid-way through her pre-med studies at Brown University, when she changed course and decided to pursue her passion for design, fine art and art history. Combining her visual arts major at Brown with design studies at the nearby Rhode Island School of Design, Diana graduated with highest honors in 1990. After a few years painting, teaching and working at the Guggenheim Museum, Diana enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology, where, in 1996, she completed an additional degree in Jewelry Design.
Throughout her career, Diana has written and conducted basic trainings for new designers, including her basic "101" Series for Hardware, Leather and Belt Design. She has also created many company glossaries, handbooks and training guides. For the University of Fashion, Diana teaches Adobe Illustrator.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Manager of the Retail Store of Lacis Museum of Lace
Erin Algeo is the manager of the retail store of Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles where she also works as the curator of the historical costume exhibits. She holds a bachelor's degree in Art History from University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Fine Art from California College of the Arts. Possessing a lifelong passion for historical fashion, she is particularly interested in the social forces that influence fashion and how people use fashion and make it their own. In addition to managing and curating, she does textile and costume restoration and conservation.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of Fashion Art Source
Felice DaCosta is a fashion industry professional with over 35 years of experience as an art director and freelance illustrator. She is currently an Associate Professor at Parsons School of Design, teaching fashion design and drawing for the last 25 years.
As a founding member of Fashion Art Source, Felice is active in promoting the visibility of fashion illustration. She was also co-owner of THE FASHION ART BANK, a fashion art and licensing company.
Felice is co-author of the textbook entitled, Fashion Flats and Templates, released in December 2016.
Her love of teaching extends to the discipline of ESOL, which she has taught for the past 8 years. She has received teaching certificates in art K-12 from Parsons/Bank Street and in TESOL from the New School. Felice holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design.
Fiona is a lifelong student of fashion and her passion is to create. Ever since she was a young girl at the foot of her grandmother's sewing machine in rural China, Fiona has had an instinct for fashion. Her interest was amplified by her rich experience in sales, marketing, and management - a fusion of business skills, professional maturity and a sense of entrepreneurship while working with internationally-focused companies and clients in China. Originally self-taught in the areas of sewing, draping, drawing, illustrating, pattern making and portfolio, Fiona's mission to professionally pursue fashion led her to Parsons for formal training. Upon graduating with a fashion design degree in 2017, she has been developing her own brand, dedicated to no-waste sustainable design. In 2019, Fiona won The Twelfth Independent Handbag Designers Award in The Most Green Handbag category, presented by Handbag Designer 101.
Heather Patterson is a professional patternmaker and costumer, working in the theatrical arts. She is the Lead Cutter/Draper for the Department of Drama at Stanford University. Heather received her degree in Apparel & Costume Design from the University of California, Davis and an MFA in fashion design from the Academy of Art University San Francisco. Heather has worked in design, patternmaking, sewing education and clothing construction for a multitude of plays, musicals, operas, and dance productions as well as in the fashion industry in the areas of bridal and intimate apparel.
Iris Hopkins is an Apparel Pattern Maker who specializes in swimwear, costume, dance and much more. She has spent her career behind the scenes as the hands that assist in making brand ideas come to life with a focus in fit, grading, and garment construction. Being formally trained from table to mannequin her passion for innovation and technology has allowed her to gain extensive knowledge in some of the industry's leading 2D and 3D software such as Lectra, Gerber, and Browzwear. In addition to, external hardware operations of plotters and digitizers.
Graduated from the Art Institute of Philadelphia where she studied Fashion Design followed by a career that spans over 10yrs working on the Sample Room floor of some of industry's most recognized brands.
When she is not helping a brand get products to market, she is tapping into her creativity. Through her own brand IMHSWIM, she also designs custom made-to-order swimwear and apparel where she does everything from design, pattern, and production. Iris has collaborated on special projects with stylists of notable performers and social media influencers.
Isabella Muzzi is a women's outerwear designer based in New York City. While still in high school, Muzzi interned at international sweater manufacturer Gauge by Design / Michel of Hong Kong and Park Slope-based bespoke childrenswear line Hiho Batik. At 16, she became a full-time student at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After graduating with a degree in Fashion Design, Muzzi went on to work in product development for mass-market private label manufacturer Permit Fashion Group.
In July 2017, Muzzi established her eponymous ready-to-wear label MUZZI NYC, where she specializes in locally-produced, "finely-tailored outerwear for the young at heart." Muzzi aims to create a safe space dedicated to fun, beauty, and individual expression while focusing on a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform. She believes shopping online has the potential to become the easiest and most user-friendly way to shop in a 21st century society.
Muzzi is currently developing her Fall / Winter 2019 collection of jackets, coats, and blazers to debut during New York Fashion Week in early February 2019. She is also currently developing a series of CAD Fashion Art lessons in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Sketch on both computer and iPad Pro for the University of Fashion set to launch in 2018.
When not obsessing over jackets, Muzzi is a nascent gardener, enjoys toasted almond gelato, refinishing furniture, and sipping espresso in coffee shops while discussing current events with friends.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Design Entrepreneur and Professor
Jessica Krupa is a New York City-based design entrepreneur and professor of design focusing on swimwear and intimate apparel. She has over 15 years of experience creating swimwear and intimate apparel collections for Fortune 500 Enterprises, such as Victoria's Secret and Li & Fung, and has been awarded a bra design patent for innovation during her tenure at VS.
Jessica previously ran a luxury swimwear company for 10 years called Krupa Couture Swim before launching her new brand Panty Promise. In 2020, Jessica identified the need for better panty options for women without risking their feminine wellness and was driven to solve this. She consulted with top NY Gynecologist Dr. Alyssa Dweck to make her vision come to life and took a year developing the best fabric and design, thus creating the first seamless certified organic cotton panty imported from a high-end mill in Italy. Jessica's design eliminates pesky panty lines and uncomfortable seams, like traditional cotton panties, resulting in a smooth and ultra-comfortable look and feel. Her design is Utility Patent Pending in the USA, Canada, EU and UK to keep the innovation and design protected against knockoffs.
Throughout her career, Jessica has been the receipt of several distinguished awards including Charleston's Emerging Designer: East Competition, a Fulbright Scholarship called CBYX for Young Professionals, and has been inducted into the Hall of Excellence at OCVTS (Ocean County Vocational Technical School). In 2023 Jessica's brand, Panty Promise, won the New Brand Audience award during the Curve Trade Show's Pitch off Competition. Jessica's mission has always been to learn anything and everything about swimwear and lingerie design to make women of all shapes and sizes feel sexy, sophisticated and confident.
We are thrilled to have Jessica teaching at UoF where she shares her expertise in our swimwear design and product development lessons.
Jill Ralston has been a major player in the fashion industry and one of the founders of Fabulous Fit®, Visual Merchandising International®, and the Fabulous Fit® Patented Fitting System, used by designers worldwide.
Her career includes branding, manufacturing, and designing clothes for prominent stores such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Barney's, Saks 5th Avenue, and more. Frustrated by the lack of quality in "fit," Jill Ralston focused her effort in building a new generation of fitting solutions. Since then, she has always maintained a strong commitment in creating innovative ideas while expanding her vision.
Prior to joining Bodymetrics, Joanne held varied senior scientific and business development positions related to the beauty and cosmetic industries. Joanne brings a wealth of experience in sales and product development in the intersection of "science and aesthetics" and is passionate about the application of science to the fashion industry. Originally from Canada, Joanne has held senior management positions in the United States.
Kathlin Argiro - shares her extensive knowledge on how to start a fashion brand in her 3-part series for University of Fashion.
With a successful track record as a fashion designer and entrepreneur, Kathlin has sold her collection to top retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.
In 2010, she joined the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) as an Adjunct Faculty member and has led high profile projects for First Lady Michelle Obama and for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute.
Most recently, Kathlin began teaching in FIT's MFA program. She also serves as a mentor for FIT's Design Entrepreneurs NYC (DENYC) mini MBA Program.
In addition to her role at FIT, Kathlin has also taught at Parsons School of Design, Pratt, and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (ZSTU), China.
Kenneth is a multi-faceted fashion designer and visual artist based in NYC. Self-taught at a young age, he continued his studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology where he received his BFA in Fashion Design. Kenneth prides himself on his versatility being equally innovative and technically equipped to bring a fantasy to life.
Two of Kenneth's biggest accomplishments are his 1st place winning jacket design for the renowned Estee Lauder Lab Series for Men and his 2nd place winning jacket design for the classic beauty company, Elizabeth Arden. As a winner in both contests, his original jacket designs were produced and worn world-wide by each company's beauty and skin care consultants.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Sustainable Fashion Designer
Kristen Luong was born in Vietnam and grew up in Brooklyn. She spent the majority of her childhood singing, drawing and dreaming about becoming a doctor. To that end, she studied Biology and conducted genetics research as a Pre-Med student at New York University for her undergrad but was drawn to art and fashion at the same time. She applied to both Fashion Design at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Medical School, eventually deciding to pursue her passion for fashion, specifically how to make shirts, pants and other tailored clothing. She later discovered that the Fashion Design program doesn't delve into those topics and that she would have to switch to the Menswear Design program at FIT instead. So, with one semester to go and a ball room gown to make, she switched to Menswear Design because her aesthetic demanded it. She felt "at home" immediately as part of the Menswear Design program. She was FINALLY learning how to make plackets, shirts, pants, jackets, coats, suits, and other tailoring techniques that she had been yearning for. Her final collection for her Menswear Design program earned her 2nd place along with having her entire final collection displayed at the Museum at FIT. Along the way, she interned for Zac Posen and was lucky enough to work on pieces shown as part of Paris Fashion Week for the Fall 2011 season. She also worked as a freelance patternmaker for Derek Lam where she learned more about fit and patternmaking for production.
In the summer of 2012, Kristen was presented an opportunity to work with sustainable fabrics for a conference being held at FIT. Discovering how amazing these sustainable fabrics are was a turning point. Prior to this, Kristen didn't realize sustainable fabrics had come so far and could be so luxurious. Things started crystalizing. The KROMAGNON brand concept came about on a trip to France/Italy to visit factories with other FIT students. Her research began with learning more about sustainable fabrics and practices. Kristen approached this research the same as she did while studying Pre-Med at NYU. As a scientist looking to truly understand what is happening below the surface. She spent countless hours understanding the pros and cons of the various different types of sustainable fabrics available, learning that while some fabrics might come from sustainable resources, they require large amounts of chemical processing to convert into fabric. The more she learned, the deeper she delved. Eventually, she came out the other end with a comprehensive understanding of the different materials available and why they're sustainable. Armed with this knowledge, she found suppliers that had the right fabrics that also followed the like-minded business practices she believed in. She also found partners for manufacturing and trims that would help her create a topnotch product. The end result of all of Kristen's effort is what you see from KROMAGNON; and yet, this is just the beginning...
In 2019, Lane Odom set out to further his education, while simultaneously changing his field of study. Upon graduation from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in International Studies, Lane enrolled in Parsons School of Design to pursue an A.A.S. Fashion Design degree. After four semesters, he graduated with honors and displayed his senior thesis collection with the Design x NYC student showcase.
Through the post-pandemic uncertainty of 2021, Lane started as an intern for a Swiss plastic-free apparel start-up. There, he quickly became a full-time employee and eventually assumed all responsibilities for product design, development and production, managing a global supply chain of premium materials and top-notch European craftsmanship.
Today, Lane has launched his own capsule collection online under the brand name Vane, and has returned to New York to provide technical design services for emerging designer Quine_Li.
"Not only is Vane about my personal journey as a designer, but I want to establish a business that is going to nurture its community and make its corner of the world a better place" he says.
As Lane advances in his journey in fashion design, he hopes to continue to increase his involvement in the education of the next generation with the knowledge he has gained from his experiences in the industry.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Manager of Customer Advocacy at Aquario Design
- Textile Designer
Lindsay Boehl is a New York-based textile designer who began her career as a CAD artist at a textile converter, designing men's shirting stripes, plaids, prints and patterns for major brands such as Ralph Lauren, American Eagle and Wrangler.
Today, Lindsay is the Manager of Customer Advocacy at Aquario Design, a leading provider of fashion, textile, CAD design and printed products solutions for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. For the past eight years, she has managed a team of trainers and support specialists who work with users of that software platform. Lindsay's textile design experience made her a great fit at Aquario, as their software product line helps textile and fashion designers produce their work inside of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop in a more streamlined way. In her role at the Aquario, Lindsay utilizes and shares her knowledge of textile design as it applies to fashion industry requirements. From color matching to knit design, wovens to technical fashion sketching, digital printing on fabric and end-to end-garment manufacturing, Lindsay's expertise includes every aspect that the textile industry is positioned.
Lindsay considers textile design a wonderful journey, and she hopes to keep learning and exploring innovative and emerging technologies. Aside from her position at Aquario, Lindsay takes on freelance jobs to keep her multiple skill sets active and welcomes every design challenge she's given, which she feels keeps her sharp and agile in her work.
Having graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a double major in Display & Exhibit Design and Fabric Styling, Lindsay has translated those skills into a career in textile design. She is grateful to all the professors who nurtured her talent and is therefore thrilled to be able to pass along her knowledge to students at University of Fashion.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Professor at Parsons
For more than 20 years, Marcie has been a highly regarded professor at Parsons in the Department of Fashion, where she has taught classes such as Visual Merchandising, Fashion, Fashion Marketing Management, Color Theory, Branding, Social Commerce, and Entrepreneurship. She was also a professor of color theory at Pratt's Graduate Department of Communications Design and the Industrial Design Department for many years.
Marcie Cooperman has "written the book" on color theory. Her textbook Color: How to Use It for Pearson: Higher Education is an essential color resource for all design professionals. It has been successfully classroom-tested through years of Marcie's Color Theory classes at Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design.
Marcie has over 30 years of experience in designing with color as a main focus in several industries - fashion design, interior design, textile design and fine art. She is owner/designer of Marcie Cooperman Knits - handknit garments, as well as of Fresh Interiors - residential interior design services. She is a fine artist painter, with expertise in oil painting as well as watercolor.
Job Titles:
- Illustrator
- Instructor
- Nurse
Mariah Graham is an illustrator of international renown with over 35 years of experience in the advertising, fashion, editorial and decorative arts industries. She has created digital, as well as hand drawn illustration assignments for Saatchi & Saatchi, Grey Advertising, New York Times, Daily News, Ogilvy & Mathers, and editorial Illustrations for HBO's (The Josephine Baker's Story).
Mariah has created editorials for Vogue magazine and major cosmetic companies, such as Revlon, L'Oreal, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden. Her portfolio has been showcased to major creative directors and editors in Beijing, China and Singapore. In Singapore, her work was showcased as ‘Artist of Today.'
She is an Adjunct Professor of art at EF International School, teaching Graphic Design for Fashion and Drawing to undergraduates and master's program students.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Strategic Consultant
Marieke has worked as a strategic consultant for multi-national marketing, fashion, active-wear and soft goods, consumer electronics and product design companies.
Her experience ranges from macro-trend translations for international marketing teams to specific ready-to use color, material and style design direction for all types of consumer products.
Marieke is highly regarded within the industry for her ability to connect high-level, long term trending, to time targeted and brand specific trend stories, translating these to tangible product and design direction. Her proprietary processes are designed to build brand strategies, and inspire beautiful, well-timed products.
Currently based in San Francisco, Marieke has previously lived in Italy and the Netherlands, where she started her career in trend analysis and worked as a stylist, editor and consultant for Italian, English and Dutch magazines and fashion brands.
Marieke holds an advanced MA in fashion editing and styling and a MA in Humanities.
She has presented at major trade and marketing events in the U.S. and beyond and has been featured in both local and international media.
Marieke is a frequent guest lecturer at major art colleges around the country.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Costume Technician for Costume Works of Somerville
Martha Palaza is an apparel design professional whose experience and education has focused on production, manufacturing, and teaching. Her skills include patternmaking, draping, garment construction, and textiles.
Martha has worked as a Costume Technician for Costume Works of Somerville, Massachusetts, whose clients are national theater and opera troupes and entertainment companies. When not working as a freelance pattern maker, Martha teaches at the School of Fashion Design (Boston).
Martha earned an MFA in fashion design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, a BA in studio art from Framingham State University in Massachusetts, and a certificate in fashion design from the School of Fashion Design, Boston.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Vice President of Technical Design Services for the Cole Haan and Andrew Marc Divisions of GIII Apparel Group
Michael is the vice president of technical design services for the Cole Haan and Andrew Marc divisions of GIII Apparel Group in New York City. He oversees all technical issues for the brands relating to fabric, trim, fit, make, testing, packaging, and compliance and hires, trains and directs the technical design staff.
Michael has spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry initially as a pattern maker and then in Italy at Compangnia delle Pelli a division of the Ruffo Group. He is knowledgeable in computer pattern making and his duties as a technical designer for various manufacturers, coordinated sampling, tech packs and evaluated spec sheets and fit. Michael was responsible for authoring and updating GIII's Vendor Manual, outlining compliance issues, and has represented the company at numerous vendor seminars and off-site fittings.
Michi Raab is a professional fashion portfolio teacher, tutor and coach. She has guided fashion designers in creating and improving their portfolios to increase their success in job searches, schoolwork, and applications to design schools. She works with all levels of designers, from high school students to seasoned professionals.
After graduating from The Fashion Institute of Technology, Michi worked as a successful designer for 20 years before spending the next 17 years as a fashion design recruiter. For the last seven years she worked at Ralph Lauren as the company's primary design recruiter. Throughout her career in the fashion industry, she has reviewed and critiqued hundreds of fashion designers' portfolios; a critical component of success in a highly competitive industry.
Monica Merino brings her very unique professional experience to University of Fashion, as a designer of millinery, dolls, fashion apparel and as a high school and college educator.
Born in Peru, Monica was inspired by her fashion teacher mother, who created a studio in their living room making clothes for high end boutiques. Once the family immigrated to the U.S. and her mom went to work as a sample maker for several designers in the 1980s, she would bring work home and Monica would help her.
Throughout her career as a New Jersey fashion design high school instructor, Monica's students earned 85 Gold Medals awarded by the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), including First and Perfect Scores along with 46 Silver Medals at state competitions. In addition, 20 of her students earned scholarships worth more than $100,000 to several fashion colleges and universities, including Centenary University, Johnson and Wales, Berkeley College and LIM.
Monica has worked with high-end hat maker, Christine A. Moore Millinery New York, the official milliner of the Breeders Cup. She has also executed special orders for the famous Kentucky Derby event. Monica's specialization is in the sculpture and body of a different variety of hat designs.
At Madame Alexander Doll Company, Monica worked full time for nine years. Her primary responsibilities included designing high-end dolls, clothing and accessories, creating production-ready patterns, documenting spec sheets and reviewing product throughout the pre-production stage. She has also worked independently, managing a large quantity of products from concept to production. Monica's strong skills at knitting and crocheting have added a new dimension to Madame Alexander products. Currently, Monica freelances at MA as a support to the team, creating package specs for overseas production and making samples for their catalog photoshoots.
At Bergen Community College (New Jersey), where Monica is currently teaching, she co-developed a continuing education Certificate Program in Fashion Design, Sewing & Fashion Art along with FIT professor Barbara Arata-Gavere.
Monica earned a BA in Fine Art from Kean University, a Master's in Education from St. Peter's University and a teaching license in Clothing, Apparel and Textiles.
At the outbreak of Covid-19, Monica began designing and creating fashionable and custom design face masks for hi-end boutiques, which are featured on her Instagram channel @monicamerinostudio
Monica's mission is to motivate her students to work to their highest potential as they study the field of fashion design. At the University of Fashion, we are pleased to have Monica teaching our students how to design using Procreate software.
Job Titles:
- Creative Director
- Founder
- Instructor
- Founder and Creative Director, Is a Graduate of Parsons School of Design and Is the Recipient of the P.E.T.a. Fashion Award for Her Dedication to Animals and Fashion
- Sustainable Fashion Designer
LOVE IS MIGHTY is a New York based luxury footwear and accessories brand committed to sustainability, Artisanal Craftsmanship and Cruelty-Free fashion. The company is dedicated to creating products that showcase an exceptional combination of modern design, innovation and ancient mastery, through collaborations with semi-nomadic tribes of the world.
Monisha Raja, Founder and Creative Director, is a graduate of Parsons School of Design and is the recipient of the P.E.T.A. Fashion Award for her dedication to Animals and Fashion.
Myriam Laroche was founder and president of ECO Fashion Week and is an eco-fashion visionary with more than 19 years of experience in the apparel and fashion industry as a head buyer, creative director, fashion marketing teacher and fashion and beauty journalist.
During her tenure as head buyer for retail chains, such as Historia and Jacob, she developed clothing lines locally and overseas. She knows every step of product development, from raw material selection to merchandising of collections and retail sales. And she knows just how far-from-green it can be and for what apparel companies are looking for, in regard to making their businesses more responsible.
Myriam's life is fashion. She has worked with world-renowned photographer Raphael Mazzucco, International model Gisele Bündchen and actress Elyse Levesque. She has been featured in Flare magazine, Fashion magazine, Forbes Online, USA Today Green Living Issue, Lufthansa magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Vancouver Sun, Westender, Georgia Straight, Le Soleil, Voir Montreal, Voyage Paris, on Fashion Television, Global, CBC, City TV, Shaw TV, Vancouver Television, CTV and in more than 80 national and international blogs.
To promote more responsible ways to design, manufacture, distribute, sell and dispose of clothes, she launched ECO Fashion Week (EFW) in October 2009, producing the first ECO Fashion Week event in September 2010. Her mission to educate the industry and the public to be more responsible on how they buy, use and dispose of their apparel continued until 2017 when she produced her last eco fashion show in Vancouver, Canada.
Natasha M. Nurse, Esq. was born and raised in New York City. She received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University and graduated cum laude from New York Law School.
She is the owner & co-founder of Dressing Room 8 (http://www.dressingroom8.com). Natasha started this new company based on her motivation to make all women look and feel beautiful each and every day. Dressing Room 8 is a dedicated space for curvy women to discover, explore, and experiment with the latest fashion accessories styled to make any outfit unique. Outside of selling curated accessory kits, she offers personal styling, and a mentorship program for other young women interested in becoming their own boss through entrepreneurship.
Additionally, she is an Adjunct Professor at Nassau Community College, where she teaches Introduction to Women Studies. There, she adores teaching, motivating and educating students about legal and non-legal women related issues.
Outside of law, she has various interests. She is a published poet, an instructor with the Long Island community-based start-up program Long Island Girl Talk, the creator of The WST Feminist blog, and a co-host for the local TV show Cafe Long Island. Additionally, she loves writing, photography, reading, and playing the flute.
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Instructor
- Assistant Textile Designer
Nicole Bisono is a fashion and textiles designer with a passion for shoe design and fashion photography. She is a graduate of Altos de Chavon School of Design, La Romana, Dominican Republic and is a graduate of the BFA program at Parsons School of Design.
Nicole's fashion designs have been featured in the Altos de Chavon Style (Estilo's 2015) fashion show and "Dominicana Moda (2015) in the Dominican Republic. She was Awarded the Bluhdorn Scholarship at Parsons (2015-2017) and the winner of the Emily Burnett design scholarship at the design center of Saga Furs, Denmark (2016).
Nicole works as an assistant textile designer in the Parsons Lang School of Science and also works for the New York design house, Dennis Basso.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Designer, Sustainability Consultant
Noor Bchara is a New York based Fashion Designer, sustainability consultant & educator. She is the founder of Upcycle Design School where she offers on-demand video classes specializing in the scalability of upcycling and repurposing.
She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and Polimoda in Florence, Italy.
Noor got her start in Fashion by interning at Marc Jacobs and has since designed for Zac Posen, TAHARI ASL, Ellen Tracy and Kate Spade.
She founded NOORISM in 2015 after being disheartened by the volume of poorly-made, practically disposable clothes produced by the Fashion industry every year. NOORISM is a Brooklyn based women's wear brand that produces clothing and accessories using repurposed jeans, all made in New York.
She is a former Venture Fellow at the Brooklyn Fashion Design Accelerator, a Pratt initiative as well as an adjunct professor at The Fashion Institute of Technology.
Noor is also an Alumni of the Arts Envoy Program where she travels through the US Embassy and teaches about upcycling in other countries. She is a frequent guest lecturer at fashion industry events as well as at major art and fashion colleges around the world.
Her mission is to inspire and educate people on upcycling and repurposed design and how to do it on a bigger scale.
Oscar Alfaro is a master leather craftsman who has been working in the New York fashion industry for over 20 years. He is the lead leather samplemaker at Andrew Marc, a division of GIII Apparel Group in New York City. GIII is the largest leather manufacturer in the United States.
Pablo is an apparel designer and visual artist based on the west coast. Splitting time between Portland Oregon and the American Southwest, Pablo has been constructing apparel and art pieces since childhood, following his dauntless curiosity wherever inspiration takes him.
With a background in fine art, he attended The Art Institute of Portland for apparel design. In his first month, one of his pieces was accepted to be shown on the runway at Portland Fashion Week. He was the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's first costume intern, integrating dress-up clothes to augment and enhance childrens' learning experiences. Pablo's broad interests served him well in product development. As lead technical designer for the Boys and Unisex divisions at Hanna Andersson, he had the opportunity to tour factories abroad and delve into the manufacturing process. Inspired, he began pursuing small scale manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing and lasercutting. Technical illustration and the manufacturing process are a realm of play that is heavily explored in his conceptual work as well.
An obsessive creator with atypical perspective, throughout his career he has also done art direction for independent films, thematic costuming, and works as a creative illustrator. He is always looking ahead to his next creative project and experimental design. Pablo's objective in his work is to inspire a sense of wonder in the viewer. For the University of Fashion, Pablo will be creating lessons focused in CAD, illustration, technical design, hand mending and experimental apparel repair techniques.