Welcome New Alumni!

Join us in welcoming our 2011 graduates to the SFD Alumni community!

 

Hye Rin Choi

Vanessa Cotoia

Veronica Machado

Ephrum Asbury III Schwartz-Laubhann

Candice Wu

 


On Thursday, May 6th prior to the 2010 commencement exercises and the presentation of Collection 2010, the School of Fashion Design hosted its first Alumni Meet & Greet at Barlow's Restaurant in South Boston. Our alumni had a great time catching up with each other. Enjoy our photos, and we hope to see you next time!

 

 

 

Martha Palaza ('02), Cecilia Hermawan Roncone ('08),

Dona Manfredi

 

Joanne Demetra ('73), Scena Proodian ('85)

 

 

 

Cecilia Hermanwan Roncone (('08), Dona Manfredi,

Denise Hajjar ('77), Sirvart Mellian ('70),

Robert Rutkauskas, Board President

 

Marcia Tredtin ('88), Ann Russo ('78), Florence Alvino ('79), Elaine Vallely

 

 

 

 

Scena Proodian ('85), Louise Willus Cushing ('68 ),

Eleanor Mason ('78)

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

The School of Fashion Design has a rich history of providing students with a solid foundation in traditional design techniques and a competitive fashion education. A testament to our success is our extraordinary alumni, many of whom have gone on to become industry leaders in Boston, nationally and abroad.

The SFD alumni community is one you call on for advice and support in your career, or tap into to fill open positions or internships in your company. We also love it when we hear of your interest to volunteer, judge a fashion show, guest lecture, speak on a panel, or donate fabric.

Our alumni events provide fun networking opportunities, and our monthly newsletter will bring you news about the school, our students, SFD faculty and administration, and your fellow alum, along with news from the local fashion scene, apparel and design resources, job postings and much more. This is also your opportunity to share your news. Let us know what you are up to, whether it is a special project at work, a show or exhibition, family milestones or charitable endeavors. We want to know, and we will help you share it with your fellow alumni.

SFD Alumni - we want to hear from you!


Email us! alumni@sfdboston.com

 

Subscribe to our newsletter

 

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!

 

 

 

 

Check out past issues of our Alumni Newsletter:

 

MARCH 2010                    APRIL 2010

 

MAY 2010                        JULY 2010

 

SEPTEMBER 2010             OCTOBER 2010

 

NOVEMBER 2010              DECEMBER 2010

 



Alumni Spotlight
 

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.
 

 




Alumni News

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!
 

 

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
 

 
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 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!
 

 
News to share? Email us and let us know: alumni@sfdboston.com
 

 


 

 

Thank You!

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following alumni for their generous recent donations to the School of Fashion Design:

- $5,000 from the Paul & Phyllis Fireman's Foundation, via Lori Baldwin ('96)
- Anthony Ferrara ('62)for donation of fabric, garments and dress forms

- Daniela Corte ('99) for donation of fabric
- Maria Loring ('87) for donation of fabric, trim, paints and painting supplies

 

ALUMNI WEBSITES:

Check out what SFD alumni are doing now!

Do you have a website you would like to list?

Email us at: alumni@sfdboston.com

 

Boye Asenuga (’08)

 

Kae Bae

 

Catherine Carter (’83)

 

Daniela Corte ('99)

 

Mary Lou Deshais (’69)

 

Maria Victoria Dominguez ('09)

 

Inez Dunst

 

Alfred Fiandaca

 

Denise Hajjar ('77)

 

Kelly Higgins ('09)

 

Karen Hipwell – Karen Warren

 

Erin Jean Kaya ('02)

Kristina Kozak

 

Eleanor Mason (’78)

 

Michael McDonald – Michael of Boston ('90)

 

Zeynep Miceli ('09)

 

Jess Meyer – Myre Designs

 

Peggy Norton Withrow (’73)

 

Debbie Ohanian – Meet Me In Miami (’76)

 

Amy Ozay – 4march ('04)

 

Katherine Piper (’90)

 

Jennifer Ramkaur-Fournier (’02)

 

Shirley Straface

 

Henry Wong - OKW

 

DAWN MELLO - Class of 1951

 

 

Dawn Mello was raised and educated in Lynn, Massachusetts.  Her retail career includes B. Altman & Co, New York, where she was Director of Fashion Merchandising and The May Department Stores, Inc., where, during a period of eleven years, she held a series of positions, ultimately being promoted to Vice President and General Merchandise Manager.

 

Her career at Bergdorf Goodman began in 1975 when she joined the store as Vice President and Fashion Director.  In 1980, she was promoted to Executive Vice President, responsible for the fashion, image and merchandising direction of the store.  She was named President in 1983 of this famous New York fashion icon.  In 1989, Ms. Mello joined the Gucci Group as Executive Vice President and Creative Director Worldwide.  She was based in Milan and was responsible for repositioning the Gucci image as a luxury brand.  Dawn made “Gucci” a household word and one of the best known luxury brands on earth.

 

In 1994 Dawn Mello rejoined Bergdorf Goodman as President, with the merchandising organization reporting to her as well as fashion and all the creative aspects of marketing.

In 1999 she stared her own consulting company, Dawn Mello and Associates LLC, specializing in the luxury market.  Based in New York, the firm maintains an international client list, from both retail and manufacturing industries.

 

Dawn Mello has been recognized and honored for outstanding achievement in her field by the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the New York Fashion Group as an outstanding woman in the retail industry.  She is a recipient of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund’s award honoring individuals and corporate leaders dedicated to full equality for women.

 

In 2001 she was the first recipient of the Eleanor Lambert award named for the legendary fashion authority and given to Dawn Mello by the Council of Fashion Designers for her contribution to the culture of American fashion.

 

 

     Dawn Mello’s speech for the

     School of Fashion Design’s Commencement Exercises

     at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston

     on Sunday, May 7, 2006

 

 

“Good afternoon everyone.

 

It is such an honor to receive this award.  You see, today I also celebrate MY graduation from the School of Fashion Design-at least in the celebratory sense.

 

Three weeks before graduation, in 1951, a group of my classmates and I left Boston to drive to the class picnic in Maine, when out car was hit by an oncoming vehicle.  I graduated in Boston City Hospital with my head in traction duet to a broken neck.  Well-it all worked out…but I certainly missed the occasion and have thought about it through  the years-never thought I would be attending the graduation ceremony 55 years later!

 

Modern was quite a different school in my day.  Of course this was before the age of the computer…not to mention the cell phone.  We all wore hats and little white gloves when we followed our instructor 2 by 2 up the street to the museum.

 

O course, jeans were only worn by workmen and, in fact, pants in any form were not acceptable.  Sportswear was a new idea, and most of us dressed just like our mothers.  I remember wearing my hair in a French twist and at age 19 looked 40!

 

I have been so fortunate in my career – managing somehow to be in the right place at the right time. Just reviewing the school’s current curriculum and understanding the courses are structured to encourage analytical thinking, with everything technology has to offer – I see how far the school has come and you will truly be prepared for the fashion industry as it exists today.

 

You graduates will have plenty of hard work ahead of you and as the years go by, you will look back on your education here as a foundation from which you have grown.

 

I wish you every success and great happiness for the future.

 

Thank you.”

 

 

CLASS of 1951 VISIT

 

There are times when all you have to do is experience someone else’s memories to define your own.  Recently five students from the Class of 1951 visited the School of Fashion Design. The women arrived full of energy and exceptional warmth. Although the visitors did not study at the Newbury Street location (all studied at SFD’s original site on Boylston Street) they quickly became comfortable chatting and enjoying the facility, while perusing school pictures, catalogs and articles from the 1950’s  and their time at the school.

 

Rita (Smith) Singer, Janice Bellew-Daviau, Marlene (Dawson) Poole, Eleanor C. (Oliva) Bernat and Nancy M. Hanaford met with one of the classes in session. These distinguished guests were asked questions as they shared amusing stories from the past which quickly bridged the gap between our present day students and the visiting alumni.

 

The short questionnaire, which our visitors filled out, included a question regarding their fondest memories at SFD.  Most memorable to our visitors were the 1951 New York City class trip, Tea Dances, the 1951 staff members (Mr. Feely, Mrs. Sinesi, Mr. Burr, Ms. Dalton) and the personalized attention they received from them. Several hours passed quickly with stories and laughter. What remained was a group of women representing many generations sharing a common bond.

Photo & Story: Viola Gonzalez