Emerging Moda LLC
About
PLEASE READ MY ANSWER TO THE PRICING QUESTION BELOW, AND SEE IF MY LOCATION OF HIGHLAND, MARYLAND 20777 IS GOOD FOR YOU BEFORE CONTACTING ME. THANK YOU!
I can help you sew whatever you want to make, in Level 1, 2, or 3.
For over 13 years in the apparel business (Product Development & Production Management) I have experience with:
Womenswear & Knitwear
Menswear & Outerwear
Sportswear & Sports Bras
Activewear & Athletic Wear
Swimwear
Lingerie with Underwire
Leather Bags & Accessories
Resort Wear & Bridal Wear
Children’s wear & Gloves
1) I started off making custom bridal gowns, custom swimwear, tailoring all clothing and Italian suits, working in the retail fast fashion space and adobe illustrator graphics/ design for leather handbags/wallets/belts etc. I won 2009 Phoenix Fashion Week with a collection I created from start to finish and then wanted to travel the world and learn fashion from the source.
2) So I moved to Italy to become fluent in Italian and worked at a knitwear factory, creating their own label, while helping to manage production for Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Fendi, Prada, Gucci & Pucci.
3) Then I moved to NYC to start my own company helping people with a product idea but they don't know where to start or who to trust in the industry. I have most recently done Private Labeling for Ashley Stewart, Boston Proper, Ross and others.
Overview of the process I help with:
design/ Adobe Illustrator sketches/ Tech Packs
patterns/ samples Quality Control
product development
production management
logistics
I'm best in dealing with countries with apparel such as the USA, China, Italy (fluent), Pakistan, but can work with many other countries in the garment industry as well. The country of choice depends on which product the designer wants to make and to stick inside their budget.
Out of all the people I've met at NYC Fashion Week and Milan Fashion Week and behind the scenes industry, my favorite moments are when my designers who started out with only an idea, go through every stage of the process with me, hand in hand, and I see how happy they are that their dreams have come true of making their very own fashion collection to sell.
Photos and videos
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We'll start by deciding what you want sew (basics, tailoring, up-cycling your own clothes, creating your own collection, accessories, fixing patterns to fit you etc) getting proper measurements, choosing fabric and trims, making or editing the pattern and then jump into sewing your product. See the pricing answer to know if you're in Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3. You can also call me anytime if you have questions. Just Google my company name.
I have an entire room dedicated to sewing (see photos), with a handful of various sewing machines, from beginner to professional, with a blind stitch and a serger. Including a cutting board, professional ironing machine etc. You're welcome to bring your own sewing machine so you're comfortable with it.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My professional education was graduating from fashion college but I learned so much more by making custom bridal gowns/ swimsuits/ tailoring for customers. Then moving onto creating Tech Packs for factories and managing the entire production process from A to Z. When I lived in Italy working for the Italian factory, I also helped the tailor shop on a US Military Base to fix their uniforms and ball gowns. These measurements need to be more accurate than a wedding dress.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
You can join the class in person (see the uploaded photos in my profile of my sewing room) or remote on Zoom.
My class is $15/hour per person for the group class and it'll be filmed so I can use for advertising purposes later on. You would be my first student in my new sewing room location so you won't have to share the class with anyone else until others join.
If you would like private classes without being filmed, it's $75/hour.
I'd like to gear my class toward your goals so please let me know the following:
1) What is your sewing experience?
2) Would you rate yourself at a Level 1, 2 or 3? (see below)
3) What would you like to learn?
4) What is your end goal to be able to sew?
5) Do you have your own sewing machine?
I'm planning to have the classes on Saturday's but let me know which day and time is best for you:
Level 1: 1pm EST (beginner, little to no experience)
Level 2: 2pm EST (intermediate, you've sewn a few things)
Level 3: 3pm EST (advanced, you want to make a collection)
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching people to become fashion designers when I realized so many people have good ideas but they don't have the connections or steps to make it work, and more importantly to make it work the right way and not the expensive way.
What types of students have you worked with?
My students can range from any age. Some are more creative and others are more structured. Both are good, and I enjoy helping to balance them out as we focus on their goals and how to create their brand to get us there efficiently.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
A fashion event I'm fond of is when I attended Milan Fashion Week. I brought a videographer with me to film behind the scenes and lots of Q&A questions about creating your own fashion brand, which you can see on my YouTube channel. My favorite moments was when 1) we were waiting for Karl Lagerfeld to walk out after the runway show. While waiting, I got to speak with his driver. 2) I got to model luxury shoes for an Italian designer in a fancy hotel setting, the designer was on set and explained how his shoes were constructed from his background of designing cars.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Look for a teacher who's open minded to create what the student wants to make. I can lead a new designer through the process and advise the best steps to take based on my experiences but at the end of the day, it's the designers brand, and they have the final say in which directions they want to go.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
Which product do I want to make?
Do I want to learn how to sew or have a factory professionally make it and focus on sales?
What is my end goal? Examples: perhaps it's just for fun, or to learn to tailor my own clothing, or to make an outfit for every season for myself/family, or create a collection for a niche market.