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O.K. This is where I tell you how all of this happened and hopefully get some great feedback started.
I have wanted to start this school for some time now.....after 20 years as a Fashion designer, I was
invited to teach fashion design at The University of Texas in Austin. I fell in love with the teaching part,
and really out of love with the academic bureaucracy part. Fighting the system in order to do something
good for the students takes the wind out of a good teacher's sails. And unfortunately, the students don't
get the best. It took one year for my students to start begging me to open my own school. The kids loved
me, and I certainly did love them......I really cared about them learning everything that I could teach them.
Austin School of Fashion Design is certainly dedicated to my students at UT, who I still hear from on a
daily basis and have inspired me, at this stage, to begin this school.
I graduated from FIT in New York, and there really is nothing better than FIT. Now..... I loved Project
Runway, and Parsons did a really good job of hosting, but FIT is still where it's at. I tell all of my students,
if you have a chance to take anything at FIT, do it!
So, this is what got me to start this school. I was watching Project Runway, and every week my students
and I would analyze everyone's work on the show, and I could see the excitement in their faces. I just
love to see students eyes light up, when they are excited about learning. My students wouldn't miss a
class. I have received an invaluable amount of encouragement from them, and they are, really, why I am
beginning this Fashion Design School.
Fashion Design is a very unique profession. A few years ago I was invited to take part in a symposium
sponsored by the fabulous School of Architecture at the University of Texas. Dean Fritz Steiner opened
my eyes to the wonderful relationship between architecture and design. I even added a class teaching
exactly that correlation. It was at that symposium that I realized that Fashion Design is almost exactly like
architecture...we design with the same process. I challenged the entire panel to explain to me how my
skirt was made, and you would think a group of architects who can build anything would have been able
to do it. One person solved the design.
Fashion design is left brain and right brain all at the same time. The major approach to design is
mathematical, which surprises most. So, students have to use math, as well as anatomy to understand
the body structure.....and it is a moving structure.....so our design must be able to move. Designers also
need to understand Textile science. An MBA is almost necessary to start your own company...learning
importing and exporting laws for textiles and manufacturing. And then an Accounting degree helps to run
your company. Manufacturing a collection requires a knowledge of all the components of construction,
from sewing, to flat pattern, to drafting, to computer generated designing. And, last but certainly not
least, is the Art part of it. It takes all of these factors to understand the elements of a beautiful garment
and how to sell it.
What I just explained, is the reason I wanted to start this school. We all need to be excited about what we
do in life, and Fashion Design is an incredibly fascinating process; challenging every part of our brain. I
am so excited to get this School open and going, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Mary Margaret Quadlander
Thank you to my students from UT who surprised me today with a wonderful visit. I have such high
hopes for their successes......great, great students!
We had the opening, and little by little, the classes are filling up! The children's and adult's classes. The
space looks great, and I am looking forward to meeting all of the new students.
Almost a month into the new school, and everything is working out wonderfully. The children's classes
are great fun....I will post some pictures! And the professional classes are just what I wanted. Everyone
seems to be very excited about the atmosphere, and we are adding a lot of new classes to the July
schedule. Any suggestions on classes that you would like to see taught...feel free to e-mail me
Well, we are certainly off and running. The school has been opened for one month. We more than
doubled our enrollment this month, which pleases me to no end. There have been a lot of hurdles to
jump over, but mainly everything has been one great adventure.
I am signing a long term lease this month....the experiment at South Congress looks like the perfect spot,
and for now, I seem to have found a great landlord, willing to let me grow. Those are hard to find in
Austin, as many of you know.
So, where to begin?........i have heard from a lot of my ex-students at UT....several have enrolled in my
classes to update their skills. Some have come in just to see me....I am so glad to see every one of
them! We have had two parties, and many of them have shown up to say hi.
Speaking of having parties.....we had an open house this past Sunday, and we all had a great
time....even sold some fabric during the party. By the way, I have a lot of fabric left from my production
days, and am selling it for $3 and $4 a yard. Linens, taffetas, satins, etc. If you want to come in and
look, feel free.
Now......for the big news...we are offering new classes..I am uploading the new August schedule, this
week. The sloper classes have moved to Saturday...one day class. Everyone is happy about that move.
Everyday, someone comes into the school with an idea for a class....I want the school to stay on a
professional note, since these are the classes most needed...but I am hearing a lot of ideas for classes.
What do you think? Let me hear from you. Also, I WANT TO START A PROJECT RUNWAY FOR
AUSTIN!!!! Let's do it!
The plans for Austin Runway (like Project Runway) have begun. I cannot say too much as this point,
because I am still meeting with sponsors, but it will definitely happen! This is really going to be a
wonderful and fun experience for so many of the talented artists that we have in Austin.
Please notice that the schedule has changed on some of the classes. Because the school year has
started, I have changed the classes to two hours long, instead of three. However, the classes last six
weeks now, instead of four.....so you are getting the same amount of learning. I hope this suits
everyone's desires...let me hear from you.
I have also added draping, and how to market your collection, so check our the descriptions. Hope
everyone has had a great summer!!
Thanks Everyone! Notice that we have added draping and marketing your collections.
Now about our Austin-Style Runway. I have meet with several people to get this thing going....everyone
will be getting an e-mail from me within the next few weeks. It is happening, and I already have judges
and model agents signed up to help judge the applicants. Stay tuned!
Also, if you want to enroll your child in Monday after-school sewing classes, please go to the website and
send in a registration, or e-mail me. Thanks!!!
Greetings! Two more weeks left in this first fall session, and then
we are on to the second session which starts Oct. 16. Classes are
going very well, and I have gotten suggestions for more classes. We
have added a sewing class. What used to be advanced sewing is now
intermediate. The new advanced sewing class tackles more design
techniques, such as pockets, or re-constructing and then re-sewing a
garment. Also, we will learn Rouching techniques, adding pull cords
to gather a cloth, zipper techniques, waistbands, and advanced collar
design. So many of the students tell me that they want to learn more
about sewing an intricate pattern, so I thought that this advanced
class would do that.
Another announcement! I have received so many calls of
congratulations for the article in TRIBEZA MAGAZINE. TRIBEZA did a
wonderful story on our school, photographs and all, and I am so proud
to be in their magazine. Zarghun and his staff have been at the
forefront of all of the new slick local art magazines that we see
everywhere now. But TRIBEZA was the first! It is always hard when
you are the first to do something...changing the mind set of the
public. But TRIBEZA has stayed true to its' vision, with a
continuous artful perspective on the Austin scene. The magazine
covers all of the ARTS....beautiful photographs from architecture to
shoes! I have saved every copy since they first started publishing!
I don't know Zarghun that well, but over the years, we have had
several conversations about his magazine, and I have learned a thing
or two from him about staying the course! When you are the first to
tackle an idea, whether it is in publishing or fashion design, you
will be the one to open the doors....and then overnight, your idea
is being copied by everyone! It happens in fashion design all of
the time. But our job, as designers and publishers is to keep one
step ahead, keep moving onto the next good idea. So, thanks Zarghun,
for the advice that you did not know you gave to me!
The school is going great! I am overwhelmed by the positive
response and by the wonderful friendships that I have made with the
students. Regards, Mary Margaret
Greetings!
I hope everyone took some time to enjoy the
glorious weather we had until this week, and for those
of you who like cold weather, it is still glorious!
Speaking of glorious, my school is off and
running to the point that we are filling up the
schedule with full classes every six weeks.
Julia Plume, who has taken every class that I
ever offered here and has now started a line of her
own that she will be introducing at Market in the
Spring, will now be teaching at the school and helping
with some of the beginner sewing classes.
We have settled on a schedule that I think suits
everyone; however, there are still times during the
day for open studio, and I would be more than
interested in hearing your suggestions for more
classes.
A few more classes that might be of personal
interest to some of you are workshops on Vintage
Clothing and on Costuming. Both of these classes will
be on Saturdays, one day classes. I know many of you
are very interested in Vintage, the collectibility of
these garments, preservation techniques, etc. So we
will have a visiting lecturer for this class.
Also, we have had many requests for a Costuming
Class, and we will also have a visiting lecturer for
this workshop. If they both are popular, we will turn
them into six week courses.
Many students have asked for sewing classes that
will take them beyond beginning and intermediate "how
to sew" classes. Advanced sewing will be that class.
So please explore our new website, and I hope you
like the changes. The registration page is
more user friendly than it has been in the past. The
schedule page is very easy if you just click on
any class on any day, it will give the entire
description, time, date, cost, and length of the
class.
Once more I am open to suggestions for class, so
feel free to write me....be well enjoy your holidays.
We will be having a Christmas Open House on Dec. 13
from 5pm-9pm. I will be sending out another
invitation for that party, so look for it in your
e-mail! Everyone is welcome to come and help us
celebrate!
Thanks, and BE WELL.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Austin School of Fashion Design News
May 26, 2007
Greetings Fashionistas,
In June we will be celebrating our one year anniversary! I can hardly believe that we have been open a year..time has just flown by. To celebrate, every past or present student at
Austin School of Fashion Design is invited to participate in a
South Austin meets the New York Runway
June 7th (first thursday)
7:00 p.m.
B.Y.O.LC (bring your own lawn chair!)
We will have a runway show in front of the school, and you can show your talents!!!. There will be runway music, lights, and action. Even if you don't want to show, please come to celebrate the
One Year Anniversary! I look forward to seeing everyone! Please call me for the details!
June 7th, 7:00 p.m. on the Runway!
You can model, or ask your friends to model your garments that you have created since being a student at our school. I think it will be a blast!
In the past year, we had 423 enrollments, which is just incredible! With the
new summer classes for children, I realized that we needed more space, so we will be enlarging to include the downstairs starting with our classes on June 18. The children's classes are filling up fast, so if you want to enroll your child, better hurry!
We have added so many classes to the adult curriculum because of student requests, so be sure and check the class schedule since it has changed so much. We have added classes in purse design, corset design, costume design, skirt and pant sewing techniques, advanced flat pattern and advanced fashion illustration/portfolio. These are classes that focus on specific techniques, so if you are wanting to enhance your understanding of those garment/accessory constructions, sign up for these classes!
The Sloper development class is now a six week class...so that we have more time to create accurate slopers as well as add alteration techniques to this class. The one day Saturday class did not leave enough time to discuss alterations, or to give the student a familiarity with using the slopers. So this is a welcome change.
For other news, I want to take this opportunity to welcome Marques Harper, our new fashion writer to the American Statesman. Marques is new to Austin and takes over a position that is so important to those of us in the profession of Fashion Design. A knowledgeablefashion writer can make a big difference in the way fashion is perceived, so I want to congratulate the Statesman for taking time to hire Marques. I had the pleasure of meeting him at our school last Wednesday, and look forward to reading his comments on our fashion scene. Jenny Miller who is also with the Statesman, wrote a nice article on our school in the Style Matters section of the paper, and I hope to continue this nice relationship with both of them, encouraging them to meet the next generation of Austin Designers at our school.
Julia Plume, who has taken all of the courses that I taught, has now created her own collection of better wear dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, and tops! Even better, she has already written orders with some of Austin's best boutiques, including The Garden Room, and C. Jane. Congratulations Julia!
The new session starts June 18, so please check the schedule, and call me if your want to ask any questions. Please come to the June 7th celebration, even if you don't want to be in the Runway Show. We need plenty of audience members and I look forward to seeing everyone again, too!!! My best, Mary Margaret Quadlander
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