Jay Calderin

Senior Instructor
Founder and Executive Director of Boston Fashion Week and author of three books. The Boston Globe calls Jay “a budding designer’s best friend.” His work as a fashion designer has graced the pages of Vogue and Elle magazines as well as the New York Times Sunday Style section. Calderin founded Boston Fashion Week and has served as the organization's Executive Director since 1995.

What students say about Jay:
”I loved Sketching 1 with Jay. Coming in, I had zero experience… a stick figure was the extent of my expertise! But I shocked myself and came up with sketches I’m really proud of. Jay is a great instructor. He is very clear and demonstrates techniques well.”
- Fashion Sketching 1, Spring 2025

Joe Carl

SCAD, MFA in Fashion Design
Massachusetts College of Art, BFA in Fashion Design,
School of Fashion Design, Certificate in Fashion Design
Joe Carl is a skilled fashion artist and educator, holding a junior certificate in Fashion Design from the School of Fashion Design (2005), a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2015), and a Master of Fine Arts in Fashion from Savannah College of Art and Design (2019). With expertise in couture garment construction and pattern making developed during his tenure at Daniel Faucher Couture (2005-2016), Joe now shares his knowledge as a visiting lecturer at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Framingham State University, Lasell University, and the School of Fashion Design focusing on advanced clothing construction, pattern drafting, and design theory. He is dedicated to making fashion design more accessible through clear, comprehensive technical instructions and step by step instructional videos. Joe's scholarly contributions include the paper 'Holy Inspiration: Religious-Inspired Fashion in the Late Twentieth Century,' published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

What students say about Joe:
”I have learned so much in Joe’s classes and had so much fun. He is patient, repeats instructions and demos, and gives lots of his time helping with independent projects.”
- Construction & Pattern Making Level 1, Fall 2024

Juliana Fakhri

School of Fashion Design, Certificate in Fashion Design
Fashion Institute of Technologies New York
Certified ClO 3D Designer
Senior Technical Designer with many years of experience in the fashion industry specializing in technical design, garment construction and fit across all categories, including infants, toddlers, missy, petite and women’s apparel. Worked for major brands such as TJX Companies, Jjill, and Talbots, collaborating closely with design, product development and sourcing teams to bring high-quality garments from concept to production. Traveled to Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and Korea to fit directly with agents and factories, establish fit standards and address production issues.

Maritza Farrell

MA College of Art, M.S. in Art Edu. & Surface Design & Fiber Arts | Escuela de Artes Plasticas de Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, B.A. in Fine Arts, Printmaking, Illustration, Painting, Art Edu.
New England School of Art and Design
After college, Maritza opened Cantero Design, a couture bridal design studio & graphic design studio, creating flats, specs and promotional advertising pieces. Later she moved to education, teaching fashion design at several colleges and universities.

Daniel Faucher

Senior Instructor
School of Fashion Design, Certificate in Fashion Design
Daniel is one of the few practitioners of couture dressmaking and has created one-of-a-kind Daniel Faucher Couture ensembles for his clients in his South End atelier since 1985. His creations are worn in ballrooms and events in Boston, on the red carpet at major award shows, and at Buckingham Palace and the White House. His work has been recognized in Women’s Wear Daily, Boston Magazine, The Boston Globe, the New York Times, Boston Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Brides Magazine. The Boston Herald described Daniel’s work as “peerless confections of couture workmanship.” Daniel is a graduate of SFD, where he was the recipient of the Bonwit Teller Award.

What students say about Daniel:
”Daniel is truly an amazing instructor with a deep knowledge of all that is involved in creating beautiful fashionable garments. From design ideas, patternmaking, through construction, Daniel skillfully guides students through the entire process. He inspires us and instills confidence in our growing knowledge of fashion design. Daniel is a gem among instructors and I feel honored to have benefited from all his knowledge.”
- Patternmaking & Construction, Spring 2025

janet galvin

Gordon College, B.A. Art
Working studio artists and instructor, Janet Galvin, focuses on color theory. Her paintings combine abstraction with realism. As a designer, she has completed work for many clients, including handbag designers and upcoming film productions companies.

What students say about Janet:
”Janet creates an environment where creativity and thoughtful learning are encouraged. Janet has a natural ability to connect with her students on a genuine level, and a gift for explaining complex topics in ways that are accessible and thought provoking. She consistently engages her students in meaningful discussions that stimulate creativity and foster self-expression. Her teaching encouraged me to challenge myself, think outside the box, and share my ideas. Janet’s genuine passion and thoughtful approach made logging into class something I looked forward to every week. This class has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in a long time.”
- 2D/3D Design, Fall 2024

Katherine McGough

Katherine is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design and a recipient of the Donna Karan Gold Thimble Award for her knitwear designs.  She worked freelance for many years in the fashion industry in New York, including knitting sweaters for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and starting her own children's wear clothing line, Green Mountain Kids.  She currently enjoys teaching fashion illustration and animal illustration in the Boston area.

Jennifer Lazauskas

New York University, B.A. History
School of Fashion Design, Certificate in Fashion Design
Jenny is an SFD alum dedicated to the crafts of dressmaking and tailoring. She considers herself a lifelong student of garment construction past and present. Since graduating from SFD in 2018, she founded a small clothing company producing fashion forward blanks for tie dye artists and worked as a sample maker.  She joined the International Alliance of Studio Employees Union (IATSE) as a stitcher and costumer working on local film and tv productions. She also works as a tailor for Talbots Inc photo shoots.

Lisa Micheels

University of Miami, M.F.A. Theatrical Costume Design, Florida State University, B.A. Theatre
Lisa has extensive experience as a theatrical costumer working in professional theatres across the country. She has taught fashion and theatre based classes in the Boston area since 1989. In 1992 she launched her Very Eclectic Clothing line of hand-painted clothing and accessories. Today, Very Eclectic is a thriving collection of hand-painted scarves, yarn, shawl pins, and buttons sold online and at fine craft and fiber shows throughout the Northeast. 

What students say about Lisa:
”I learned so much in this class! I didn’t know much about different textiles beforehand. Lisa is a great teacher and instilled a new love and curiosity for textiles for me. The information I learned and the swatch book we made are going to be very valuable resources in my career and schooling.”
- Fundamentals of Textiles,  Fall 2024

“Lisa is an informed, experienced teacher with a wealth of knowledge about costume history.”
- History of Costume, Spring 2025

Dr. Phyllis Misite

Boston College, M.A. and PhD
Framingham State College, BS
Fashion Institute of Technology, AAS
Dr. Phyllis Misite has been teaching Computer Aided Design (CAD) since 1994. Computers and fashion design are her passion and combining the two makes it twice the fun for her! She has taught all facets of fashion design at the college level since 1979.

Shaunt Sarian

Growing up in his family's handbag workshop in Lebanon, Shaunt learned the skills of meticulous design and the art of making a beautiful bag by hand. Shaunt travels the world in search of inspiration and exotic materials for his handbag and accessory collections.

Shaunt has worked for celebrated designers such as Anne Klein, Donna Karan, and Cole Haan, developing their products and helping build their accessory brands. Sarian Designs limited edition handbag collections embody everything that is important to Shaunt - distinctive craftsmanship, beautiful materials, and personalized attention to the client's vision.

Lisa Taranto

Boston College, B.S. Biology
Lisa is a prodigious maker with a deep appreciation for how creativity and the design process can be amplified by technical understanding and skill-building. She brings 30 years of experience as a Technical Designer for companies including Bennett & Co., Judi Armand Inc. for Talbots Collection Label, and L.L. Bean Signature. A constant learner herself, Lisa explores and seeks to preserve couture artistry.

Nellie Theroux

Lasell University, B.A. Fashion Design & Production
Holyoke Community College, Business Studies
Nellie earned her degree in Fashion Design and Production from Lasell University. With nearly a decade of experience as head of the sewing department in an upholstery shop, she brings a deep understanding of craftsmanship and construction to her work. Her freelance portfolio includes work as a luxury bridal stylist with The Stylish Bride and a tailor for Talbots Inc. Nellie also consults small businesses on branding, offering creative guidance grounded in hands-on industry experience. Nellie shares her expertise as an adjunct professor at Lasell University, Fisher College, Bay State College, and the School of Fashion Design. In 2010, she founded Peaceful Fashions, a creative studio that offers design services alongside a thoughtfully curated collection of antique and vintage jewelry.

What students say about Nellie:
”Nellie is one of the most patient, experienced instructors I’ve met. She is perfect for beginner students learning construction techniques. I was impressed at how she is able to scan the room and determine if someone was having any trouble. Her method of teaching is clear, and I enjoyed my classes with her. The construction techniques in the class made sense, and I’m proud of my final garments!”
- Clothing Construction 1, Spring 2025