Suzy Furrer

Suzy began her career in fashion in the early 80’s by designing, patterning and knitting sweaters by hand and machine and selling them to private clients and boutiques. In the mid-80’s, Suzy studied in San Francisco with Simmon Sethna, a couturier who learned industry patternmaking in Paris in the 1950’s and was certified in haute couture. She studied with Simmon every weekday for 3-5 hours a day for almost two years.

After completing her studies with Simmon, Suzy worked as a free-lance patternmaker for Bay Area apparel companies. She worked for a boutique, Rutabaga, in San Francisco where she patterned, sourced fabrics and arranged manufacturing for their private men’s and women’s lines of contemporary clothing and continued to design and manufacture sweaters and produce a small line of women’s clothing.

Apparel Arts came about after an acquaintance asked if Suzy would teach her industry patternmaking. Through word-of-mouth, enrollment in the school grew quickly and it was apparent there was a need for this type of apparel industry training. Apparel Arts was born.

For a few years Apparel Arts just offered patternmaking. With the patternmaking course as the cornerstone of the program, she decided to add other classes to make a well-rounded education for those students working in the industry or those looking to work in the industry. Suzy’s patternmaking text, Building Patterns, The Architecture of Womens’ Clothing has been used to teach hundreds of students. The methods and the exercises are tried and true and even after 12 years she is still thrilled at the results it produces.

Sarah Alm

Sara graduated from the Apparel Arts patternmaking program in 2005 and has
since worked as a patternmaker, a sewing and fashion instructor for at-risk teenage girls, and launched her own clothing line. Since Sara was a young girl she has loved using textiles as her medium. Sara has been sewing for 22 years and started teaching in her college years.

Paul Gallo

Paul Gallo has been a fashion designer for 30 years and has been teaching classes for 20. He graduated from F.I.T. in New York City and began his career on 7^th Avenue as a design assistant. He has been in San Francisco since 1991 and has produced a line of clothing under his own label, costumed plays at many theatres, and taught classes at San Francisco State, City College of San Francisco, FIDM, and The Sewing Workshop. Paul likes to help people realize their career goals through their creativity.

Susan Khalje

Susan received her professional sewing training at the New York couture salon Chez Cez et Bez. She later worked as a designer and manufacturing supervisor for the ladies sportswear firm ISIS, on 7^th Avenue in New York. After a number of years abroad, she returned home to Baltimore and has concentrated on couture sewing for the past 20 years, developing a clientele for her one-of-a-kind wedding and evening gowns. She established the Couture Sewing School in 1993, which provides a unique opportunity to learn couture sewing techniques. She teaches throughout the country and leads couture-focused trips to Paris. She is the author of Bridal Couture (Krause) and Linen and Cotton (Taunton). Susan is currently a contributing editor at Threads Magazine. For more about Susan Khalje, go to www.susankhalje.com.

Laura Loveland

Laura Loveland, a graduate of the Apparel Arts patternmaking program, began her career in fashion in high school sewing for herself and friends. After exploring various careers she realized her heart was truly in fashion. Since 2003 Laura has been working for a major San Francisco clothing manufacturer.

Lynda Maynard

Lynda has been teaching sewing and fitting classes in the Bay Area for 14 years. In addition to instructing at Apparel Arts, she is member of the Fashion Design Department faculties at Canada College in Redwood City, and City College of San Francisco. She recently put out a CD on demystifying fit, available from Lynda at lmaynardsews@yahoo.com. She has been designing and creating beautiful garments for a private clientele for the past 10 years. Lynda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics from San Jose State University.

Wendy L. Miller

Wendy has operated her company Frippery since 1980. She offers a full range of sewing services to her private clients in fashion, costume and home décor. Wendy has won numerous awards for costume design for Carnaval San Francisco and is a past present of the San Francisco Chapter of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers. She has taught in various venues in the Bay Area for over 20 years and is currently on the faculty of the Fashion Department at City College of San Francisco.

Pat Moyes

Pat teaches sewing in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in the teaching of basic and intermediate sewing skills. She is the author of Sewing Basics, and Just Pockets, both published by Taunton Press. Pat has contributed articles to Threads Magazine. Pat is currently completing a course in textiles and surface pattern design at The California School for Professional Fabric Design, in Berkeley, California.

Allison Page

Allison graduated from the Apparel Arts patternmaking program in 1998 and has since worked as a patternmaker for private clients. Allison is an experienced instructor who has shared her knowledge through teaching patternmaking, draping and tailoring classes. She has tested patterns as well as written numerous articles for Threads Magazine. She is the co-owner of an independent pattern company, “Go Patterns.” http://www.gopatterns.com

Remy Passah

Remy, a process engineer, has been sewing since the age of 9. Over time, she has developed an expertise not only in sewing, but also in textile art. Remy has been accepted in many juried shows and is a member of the American Craft Council. Her art wear is currently on display in a select number of high-end boutiques in Carmel, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Palo Alto and San Francisco. She now brings her love of textile manipulation to us to share and inspire.

Madeline Rogers

Madeline has worked on both the business and creative ends of the fashion industry for over 15 years. She is a CPA and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University. She has provided general business and accounting consulting services to numerous apparel manufacturing companies, both in the Bay Area and in Southern California. Madeline has a diploma from Pacific Fashion Institute, studied French method patternmaking with Simmon Sethna and graduated from the Apparel Arts patternmaking program. Madeline has made custom clothing for a private clientele and worked as a designer and patternmaker for Sportiva, a volleyball sportswear company. She is currently a co-owner of Go-Patterns, an independent pattern company. http://www.gopatterns.com.