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Master Sewing and Design Professional (MSDP) Certification Program Board Members
Catherine Stephenson, Board Chairperson, has owned her own couture dressmaking business for 30 years. She was one of the founders of what is now known as the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals. Catherine joined the faculty of the prestigious Art Institute of Portland as an Adjunct Professor of Apparel Design in 1998, where she regularly teaches classes in couture sewing, draping, textiles and advanced garment construction. She has been a strong advocate for the Master Certification Program and has had a prominent role in its formation.
Vandarra Robbins, Director of Operations, is a founding member of the NJ Chapter of Association of Sewing and Design Professionals and has served as President, Vice- President and evaluator for the chapter jurying committee. She spent four years as the resident sewing expert “Meg Carter” at McCall Patterns, after which she became the Creative Director at HTC, INC (formerly Handler Textiles) and Precision Custom Coatings. She has also free lanced for Isaac Mizrahi and been a guest lecturer at FIT. Vandarra began her business in 1993 teaching, creating custom bridal, and tailoring. In 2012 she decided to concentrate on teaching and has opened Sewphistication at the Couture Hand giving instruction in garment construction and fit. Presently she conducts garment construction and fit workshops to sewing groups in the NY, NJ and PA areas.
Mimi Jackson is a collaborative custom clothing designer and dressmaker who has owned her own custom clothing business since 1997. A native New Yorker, she studied fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology, and later supplemented that training with costume design experience while studying at Washington University in St. Louis. As the creator of www.findadressmaker.com, (a dressmaker and sewing teacher referral website) she helps potential clients find appropriate sewing professionals to execute their projects. Her experiences working for the Butterick/Vogue pattern company, textile companies, high end designers, and wardrobe and costume for movie and television productions, have all fueled her insatiable appetite for many aspects of the custom sewing profession. As a member of this board, she hopes to help facilitate, inspire, encourage, and encourage other sewing and design professionals to pursue the mastery of their craft.
Jules Cole graduated as a fashion designer from East Sydney College, Sydney, Australia. After graduation Jules worked as a fashion designer in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia for over 30 years. She has designed collections for many companies focusing on: teenage, children’s and women’s apparel. She has also worked as a designer in the area of haute couture. Jules also had her own business designing and stitching couture bridal gowns. After Jules immigrated to the USA in 2002 she began teaching as an adjunct instructor in fashion design programs. Her main area of expertise is the design process from concept to the production of a garment. She teaches design classes in leather, coats, collections, and stretch knits (sportswear, day wear, lingerie and swimwear). Jules also teaches classes in clothing construction, pattern making and draping. She has taught at Harper College, IL, International Academy of Design and Technology, IL and Mount Mary College, WI. In 2008 Jules co-authored two textbooks for Fairchild Publishers (New York) for fashion design students. Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers and the Sample Workbook to Accompany Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers are both widely used throughout USA and also internationally as core textbooks in fashion design programs. Jules is presently writing another textbook on stitching knit fabrics (and garments), also for design students.
Angela Wolf, owner of ABO APPAREL, LLC, is an internationally renowned fashion designer, TV personality, spokesperson, instructor and author. She started a custom apparel and alteration business in 1994 and recently launched the Angela Wolf Pattern CollectionTM for the home sewer. Angela is the couture sewing expert on It's Sew Easy TV, writes a monthly fashion and trends column on PatternReview.com, is a frequent contributor to Threads and Sew Stylish Magazines, author of How to Start a Home-based Fashion Design Business, and teaches online sewing classes on PatternReview and Craftsy. Winner of the 2008 Passion for Fashion, in 2010 Angela was one of the featured fashion designers in Chicago, and won 2012's teacher of the year at the America Sewing Expo.
Linda Macke received her Apparel Construction and Design Certificate from Phoenix College in 1991. She was on the Advisory Board for the Fashion Design Program at Phoenix College from 1991-96. Linda was a guest lecturer at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in October 1999. She was also a co-chairperson and presenter at the 1999 Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP) National Educational Conference in New Jersey. Linda had an alteration and custom clothing business for 20 years and currently is a retired member of ASDP. Linda has been a charter member of the ASDP since 1991. Linda co-chaired the committee that created the original mission statement for ASDP. She was an active member of both the Arizona and New Jersey Chapters and was an evaluator for the New Jersey Chapter’s Referral Evaluation program from 2000- 2008. Linda has attended all the ASDP National Educational Conferences from 1994 to 2015. Linda was the ASDP Region 1 Director from 2006-2007 and served as ASDP’s VP of Certification Programs from 2009-2014. Linda won the Most Whimsical Closure award in the reversible wool contest sponsored by Threads Magazine and Joanne Fabrics in 2001. Her award winning suit can be seen in Threads Magazine, October/November 2001 issue, pg. 40.
Julianne Bramson developed her love for clothing as artistic self-expression at a young age. With artist parents and grandparents, she was always surrounded by innovative thinking and the desire to be expressive. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics with concentrations in Fashion Design and Art History. While researching 1930s fashions, Julianne became enamored with the innovative work of Madeline Vionnet and her geometrically designed bias cut garments. Julianne is a co-owner and the designer for an independent pattern company, Fashion in Harmony (with Susan Lenahan, at right in photo). Fashion in Harmony specializes in patterns developed utilizing the seemingly magical abilities of the bias cut. This method helped Julianne win the "Best Overall" design of a “luxurious bias cut velvet dress" (Threads Magazine, Issue #148). Julianne has written several articles for Threads Magazine on bias cut and also fabrics and their uses. You may see photos of her work and reach Julianne through the company website: www.fashioninharmony.com.
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Jules Cole
Angela Wolf
