April 2010 Alumni News Dear Jay, The wonderful feedback we received on our first alumni newsletter last month is really testament to the sense of community among SFD alumni. Many of you wrote to tell us how great it was to hear from the School, read about your peers, and reconnect. Thanks to those who forwarded the newsletter to other alumni. We were pleased to hear from several "long lost" alumni and bring them back into the SFD community. Also, mark your calendars for the May 6 graduation and fashion show, where for the first time we are also hosting an Alumni Meet & Greet cocktail hour before the event. We hope to see you all there! Mrs. Louise Willus Cushing (left), Alfred Fiandaca (lower right) Regards, Jennifer Leclerc SFD Alumni Relations Connect with other alumni! Upload photos and share news and announcements! Be a Sponsor! Discounted Alumni rates! Want to sponsor Collection 2010? Your support benefits not only the school and its students but also brings attention to your business. Last year some 400 people attended our event. Our annual show, our students and alumni have been featured in major local 1 of 6 8/12/10 2:05 PM
and national media publications. And we are a nonprofit organization, so your donation is tax deductible. This year we are offering discounted ad rates for alumni. Call or email us today for rates and more info. (617) 536-9343 sfdboston@aol.com Meet SFD Director Jim Hannon Many of you know him well, but if you graduated before 2001, perhaps you've not yet met School of Fashion Design Director Jim Hannon. Born and raised in Boston, Jim made his first foray into the "fashion world" at sixteen when he got his first job in Filene's Basement. While continuing his retail education in Filenes, Jordan Marsh, and Lord & Taylor, Jim also earned his degree in Education at Fitchburg State College. Jim joined the School of Fashion Design in March 2001 and assumed the role of Director in May 2001. In his nine years at the school, Jim has overseen renovations to the building at 136 Newbury Street, worked on raising the profile of the school, its students and alumni, and working closely with SFD faculty, refined the curriculum, adding computer-aided design courses in 2006. Jim lives in West Roxbury with his partner, Roger. Opportunities 5pm alumni reception at Barlow's (see below) 6pm reception - hors d'oeuvres & cash bar 7pm graduation 7:30pm fashion show reserved seats $50 (free alumni reception) for tickets and info, call 617.536.9343 or email sfdboston@aol.com ALUMNI RECEPTION 2010 Please join us for our first annual alumni gathering immediately before the "Collection 2010" graduation fashion show. Your alumni host committee Sirvart Mellian Louise Willus Cushing & Denise Hajjar 2 of 6 8/12/10 2:05 PM
invite you to mix and mingle with your fellow alumni before the show, or to join us even if you are not able to attend graduation. Söfft Shoe Company, a division of HHBrown Shoe Company, seeks a footwear designer with excellent sketching skills. The position will be an integral part of the Design and Product Development team, and will assist with the development of multiple product lines, focused primarily on women's footwear.contact Söfft Shoe human resourcesin Andover. Congratulations Kim Whitty-Spratt 2010 SFD Distinguished Alumni Kim Whitty-Spratt('92) Technical Design Contractor for Adult Sweaters for TJX is awarded the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award. This award was created in 1966 on the occasion of the retirement of Donald Smith-Feeley, founder and first president of The School of Fashion Design, and is awarded to a member of the SFD Alumni who has been out of school for more than five years and making a significant contribution in the fashion design industry. Thursday, May 6 2010 5-6:30pm Barlow's Restaurant 241 A Street, South Boston MAP Cash bar, complimentary light snacks Please RSVP by May 1 to alumni@sfdboston.com or 617.536.9343 Alumni Spotlight: Donna Zlotnick Donna Zlotnick ('72) of Natick Labs is awarded the 2010 Isobel S. Sinesi Lifetime Achievement in Fashion Award. Donna has traveled the US, Japan and Guam for her work with the U.S. Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility, where she is currently the team lead on some of the Navy's new uniform projects. She also served as their Pattern & Prototype Group Supervisor, where she maintained dress clothing patterns and protective clothing patterns for the Navy, Marine Corps and US Postal Service. Previously, Donna was Head Patternmaker/Marker maker for New Balance. And prior to this she worked at House of Bianchi, where she started in the cutting room/return department and worked her way up to Head Patternmaker for "made to measure" orders for the Boston bridal wear house. Donna's first job after graduating from SFD in 1972 was with C&S Jewelry in Cambridge, where she learned to be a silversmith. Congratulations to Donna on receiving our 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was created in 1993 on the occasion of the 90th birthday celebration of SFD's Director Emeritus, Isobel Sinesi, and is awarded to a member of the SFD Alumni who has been out of school for more than twenty-five years and is still making a significant contribution in the fashion design industry. 3 of 6 8/12/10 2:05 PM
invites you to MEET Marilyn Riseman a new series of professional peer events to celebrate local fashion leaders and provide networking opportunities. Tues, April 20. 6-8pm Brasserie Jo 120 Huntington Ave. Complimentary admission. Cash bar. Click herefor more information about becoming an FGI member. Spotlight: student designer Alicia LaClair Alicia LaClair is finishing her Designer's Line, her final collection as a student of the School of Fashion Design, hoping it will get her a place on the "Collection 2010" runway. No stranger to the spotlight, Alicia spent years learning the art of dance growing up in her home town of Leominster, MA. Inspired by this movement and energy, her designs reflect her flair for color in her carefully selected choice of bright, lively hues. "I want to make every woman feel like she's center stage," says Alicia. She hopes to someday own her own boutique, as well as have CELEBRATES GRADUATE FASHION SAVE THE DATES Get your front row seat to the future of fashion and support the next generation of local talent! STUDENT DESIGNER FASHION SHOWS April 23rd, Framingham State College April 29th, Bay State College April 30th, Lasell College - Undergraduate May 1st, Lasell College - Graduate May 6th, School of Fashion Design May 7th, Massachusetts College of Art & Design May 8th, Mount Ida College May 22nd, Rhode Island School of Design Alumni News Anthony Ferrara('62) It runs in the family! Anthony's granddaughter created this dress (made out of trash bags!) for one of the contestants on the reality TV program "RuPaul's Drag Race." Diane Giguere Martin ('73) I teach for the University of Rhode Island Textile, Merchandising & Design Dept. I've taught Apparel Construction for the last four years. I teach and coordinate their Master Seamstress I & II Program. I am Program Chair for the Rhode Island Sewing Network, and a member of the Association of Sewing & Design Professionals. Before teaching, I worked as a patternmaker for Phillipa of Boston Bridal, Royal Robes, and Stephen Sportswear. I love my work and never stopped since graduating in 1973! 4 of 6 8/12/10 2:05 PM
her label in stores nationwide. Alicia will join the ranks of Alumni when she graduates from the SFD 3-year program on May 6. News to share? We always want to hear from you! Email us! We are interested in hearing about job or internship opportunities for graduating students, recent grads, and seasoned design professionals who may be looking for work in this difficult economy. If you are looking for work or interested in teaching at SFD, let us know. Did you know? SFD has an online store! Visit today to get your SFD gear and memorabilia! Your purchases help support the School of Fashion Design! Denise Hajjar ('77) "Dress for Success" of Boston is an organization that helps battered and less fortunate women get into the work force by outfitting them with business appropriate clothing and accessories for their job interviews at no cost to them. All items come from generous donations. Dress for Success has recently approached me because they are in desperate need for business appropriate black handbags. So pull out that bag you don't use anymore but haven't the heart to get rid of - this is the perfect thing to do with it. Anything would be a great and much appreciated. Tell your friends! Jennifer (Ramkaur) Fournier ('02) Los Angeles resident Jennifer Fournier just launched her new clothing line and website. Jennifer has been an avid collector of vintage clothing of the 40s and 50s since she was 15. While attending the School of Fashion Design she received the prestigious Filene's Excellence in Design Award and Scholarship for her evening wear creations. She graduated with a focus on Couture evening and Bridal wear. She has worked for companies such as David Josef of Boston, and in Los Angeles for Gigi, Wendy Hil, Liz Claiborne and revamp. In 2009 she began to pursue the idea of Fournier in earnest. With the help and encouragement of her husband and co-owner Robert, they built a clothing line that reflects the vintage quality and style they love. Check it out at www.fournierclothing.com! Amy Ozay('04) I am selling off my inventory of eco-friendly fabrics and yarns at below wholesale prices. Please contact me at amyozay@gmail.com if you are interested in seeing the complete list with images. www.meenooma.com Gina DeWolfe('09) I'm now Professor DeWolfe at Baystate College, where I teach French Draping and Tailoring, and will add two more classes this fall. I also have another project in the works, in collaboration with a medical supply company that sends supplies overseas for tragedies such as the Haiti earthquake. I'm making simple little comfort dolls to be sent in the boxes along with supplies in place of packing peanuts. They'll cushion the supplies and can then be distributed to 5 of 6 8/12/10 2:05 PM
children. I hope to stay connected with you all, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything SFD has done for me. I'd never be where I am without it! We are looking for our other alumni! If you are in touch with fellow classmates or have worked with other SFD grads, please forward this and ask them to contact us. Tell them not to miss out on our upcoming news and event announcements! Sincerely, Jennifer Leclerc Alumni Relations School of Fashion Design alumni@sfdboston.com Forward email Email Marketing by This email was sent to sfdboston@aol.com by alumni@sfdboston.com. Update Profile/Email Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. School of Fashion Design 136 Newbury Street Boston MA 02116 6 of 6 8/12/10 2:05 PM