History

A Foundation in Design Thinking 

For over 90 years, the School of Fashion Design (SFD) has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in fashion education, guiding students through the fashion design process with comprehensive technical teaching expertise and producing an impressive array of talented fashion and design professionals. Founded in 1934 as the Modern School of Applied Art by visionary leaders Carolyn L. Dewing (Radcliffe), Donald Smith-Feeley (Parsons School of Design), and Lucy R. Robertson (LaSalle College), the school’s grand opening at 687 Boylston Street in Boston marked the beginning of a legacy that would influence the fashion industry for decades.  

The story of the School of Fashion Design is best told through the success stories of alumni throughout the years who have made significant contributions to the local fashion industry and beyond. The earliest notable alumnus is Marie Cosindas (Class of 1943), who embarked on a successful15-year career as a textile designer directly out of SFD’s design and applied arts program. When she began working in still life photography, it didn’t take long for her work to attract attention. Marie became a contemporary of Ansel Adams when both were hired by Polaroid Corporation to test the company’s instant film products. She later became famous for her portraits of Andy Warhol, Coco Chanel, Ives Saint Laurent, Ezra Pound, Paul Newman, Truman Capote and others.  

A Modern School for a New Modern Era 

In September of 1945, World War II came to an end, and the school emerged with the determination to meet the changing demands for art and vocational education. Students began Fall semester at the newly renamed the Modern School of Fashion and Design, with study areas in Costume Design, Interior Design, and Retail Studies. The fashion program was introduced and directed by Isobel S. Sinesi (Avon University), who came from teaching at RISD and a costume design background with Shubert Theatre. Two years later, the school added programs of study in Fashion Illustration and Advertising. 

One of the first rising star graduates to come out of the new fashion program was Dawn Mello (Class of 1951). After a decade of working as a buyer for The May Department Stores in New York, Dawn rose up the fashion executive ranks and became President of Bergdorf Goodman, where she discovered and promoted Michael Kors. In the early 1990s, Dawn became Creative Director for Gucci Worldwide, where she is credited for reviving the Gucci as a luxury brand as well as discovering and hiring Tom Ford to the brand. 

The Modern School of Fashion Design became an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1955, and in Fall of 1956, classes started at the school’s new location on Boston's renowned "fashion-way" on Newbury Street. Isobel Sinesi became Co-Director leading the school alongside Donald Smith-Feeley for the next decade until his retirement in 1966. Smith-Feeley was succeeded by Richard Alartosky (Boston University). The School was again renamed to The School of Fashion Design (SFD), as it remains to this day. Alartosky was noted for expanding the faculty and Advisors to include prestigious local designers and industry professionals such as Marie Cosindas, Alfred Fiandaca, Pat Fiandaca, Jo Somers, Shirley Willett, and Louise Cushing. Alartosky also introduced Millinery Design, added an evening and summer program for working professionals, and launched the ”Prep Program” for high school Junior and Senior students.  

Advancements in Textiles, Television & more 

The faculty again expanded in the 1970s to include local industry leaders Albert Abboud, Dominic D’Alessandro, Jayne Sullivan Avery. As fashion headed into the disco era and sparkle of the late 70s and early 80s, there’s no doubt Anthony Ferrara (Class of 1962) was born into the right decade for his creative vision and artistry with metal mesh textiles. As exclusive designer for Whiting and Davis, Anthony was invited to design the iconic silver mesh minidress and 18-karat gold dress for the Absolut Vodka ad campaign. Hailed as the “King of Mesh,” his designs have been featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and have been worn by celebrities including Tina Turner, Heidi Klum, Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, Lenny Kravitz, and more. 

Advancements in textile research and development during this time created opportunities for skilled apparel designers and pattern drafters who could turn new textiles into finished garments. SFD alumni like Sirvart Mellian (Class of 1970), Donna Zlotnick (Class of 1972), and Scena Proodian (Class of 1985) all enjoyed long and successful careers with the U.S. Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility.  

Pictured from left to right: Kim Kardashian wearing an original Anthony Ferrara mesh halter top. Display of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Donna Zlotnick garment.

In 1974, The School of Fashion Design was celebrating its 40th anniversary. Founded during the golden age of Hollywood, many SFD alumni graduating in the mid-1970s were just starting out in what would later become successful careers in fashion for film and television. Leena Dunn (Class of 1974) is a seasoned stylist with extensive experience in the TV, film, and fashion industries. Her career highlights include working with the Motion Picture Costumers Local 705 on popular TV shows such as "The Office," "Ghost Whisperer," and "Two and a Half Men.” Ann Russo (Class of 1978) spent her initial years honing her skills as a stitcher, pattern maker and grader before founding Ann Russo Technical Design Service Inc. in 1984. Ann has worked in consulting, pattern making, and production on numerous movies and TV shows, including Moonrise Kingdom, Black Mass, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

Building Local Fashion Brands 

 Equipped with the entrepreneurial skills gained at SFD, several graduates from the 1970s and 1980s went on to develop and launch successful labels that are still thriving today on both coasts of the U.S. Denise Hajjar (Class of 1977) is a household name in Boston fashion, and has designed under her label for more than 40 years. She was “Designer in Residence” at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel and the Intercontinental Hotel. Today, her namesake boutique is in Quincy. Debbie Ohanian (Class of 1976) is the creative force behind Meet Me in Miami, a brand that is proudly produced by an all-female team in Los Angeles, committed to sustainability. Debbie's laid-back and confident designs have attracted celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. 

Meanwhile, local companies with deep roots in New England, such as TJX Companies, J.Jill, Talbots, Timberland, L.L. Bean and others have continued to provide career pathways in technical design for numerous SFD graduates from 1976 to today. SFD alumni are contributing to these brands’ success across products lines in childrenswear, swimwear, knitwear, sweaters, and more. 

In the field of couture design and fine craftsmanship, Daniel Faucher (Class of 1982) has been creating one-of-a-kind evening and bridal-wear pieces for over 40 years. His work has walked the red carpet at every major awards show and has also graced the halls of Buckingham Palace and the White House. His work has been featured in Women’s Wear Daily, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Boston Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Brides Magazine. Daniel joined the SFD faculty in 1987 and is now a Senior Instructor and Fashion Show Director for SFD. Daniel designed and created exquisite Mayor Michelle Wu’s suit ensemble for the 2022 City Council swearing-in ceremony at City Hall.   

Sporting Style & the Rise of Athleisurewear 

By the early 1990s, the U.S. market was already seeing a rise in athletic wear as a prominent fashion category. Several prominent athletic brands were either headquartered or had their North American headquarters in New England. SFD alumni in this era played significant roles in the apparel product design and development for brands like Reebok, New Balance, Adidas, Puma and more. 

Crystal Shiell (Class of 1993) began her career in athletic wear as a Technical Developer at Puma, followed by Technical Design Lead at New Balance in the Women's Running and Elite Athletes categories. She went on to be a Pattern Manager for Adidas and is now the Director of Technical Design for Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Crystal was appointed to the SFD Board of Trustees in 2021.    

As part of the Reebok team designing for the 1998 Olympics, Ingrid Bornheimer-Smith (Class of 1996) had a hand in designing the then-provocative tennis dress worn by Venus Williams. 

The New Millennium 

The 21st century brought new and fresh leadership to The School of Fashion Design. Jim Hannon, with a strong retail background from Lord & Taylor, assumed the role of Director. Jim hired fashion designer Jay Calderin to teach fashion sketching and illustration. Jay Calderin was already an established local leader, having launched Boston Fashion Week several years earlier. SFD also introduced Computer Aided Design (CAD) courses into the Certificate core curriculum, providing students with additional cutting edge instruction in CAD for fashion sketching, technical design, textile design, and digital pattern drafting. Meanwhile, SFD alumni enjoy to show extraordinary success as breakout new brands, technical costume designers, and entrepreneurs in new frontiers of digital retail. 

In 2000, Daniela Corte (Class of 1999) founded her brand, later opened her Newbury Street boutique in 2011, and continues to be one of Boston’s leading designers. Her swimwear has been featured in numerous Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editions, and her sophisticated streetwear designs have been in Boston Magazine, Women's Wear Daily, Town & Country, Lucky Magazine, and other publications. 

Julie DeSimone (Class of 2004) came to SFD in 2002 with a singularly focused dream of being a costume designer for Cirque du Soleil. After graduation, Julie moved to Las Vegas with the company and rose through the ranks over sixteen years, holding increasing leadership positions for their productions of including Mystère, Michael Jackson ONE, Mad Apple, and Holidaze.  

Pictured from left to right: Daniella Corte swimsuit, Julie DeSimone in studio with Ciruqe du Soleil, Boye Asengua garment from her own brand ChicNiCity.

Originally a lawyer in Nigeria, Boye Asenuga (Class of 2008) came to the U.S. directly to SFD to pivot to into a career in fashion. Her locally based ChicNiCity women’s ready-to-wear label is inspired by a dual identity that combines ethnic-inspired colors and prints with contemporary design elements. ChicNiCity has an exclusive collection on the Home Shopping Network.  

As online shopping continued to grow, Cecilia Hermawan (Class of 2008) was preparing for her own entrepreneurial move. After seven years at True Fit, a fashion technology start-up that personalized fit and sizing for e-commerce retailers to help them increase sales and reduce returns, Cecilia founded Vico Style, her direct-to-consumer, tech-enabled vintage fashion startup that resells vintage fashion that may otherwise end up in landfills. Vico Style also has brick and mortar locations in Beacon Hill and Harvard Square. 

A Return to Craft 

Pictured from left to right: Candice Wu on cover of BG Glamour Magazine, Women of the Year International Designer of the Year 2024. Salome Bissa Kona, Elöre Design

In the second decade of the 21st century, SFD saw a dramatic shift in student demographics and interests, with more students entering our Certificate program with learning goals focused on traditional couture skills in garment construction. Having never strayed from its core values of fine hand-crafted garment techniques, SFD was well-prepared to meet the needs of this next generation of fine artisans who are now designing under their own couture labels in several major U.S. cities.  

Originally from Hong Kong, Candice Wu (Class of 2011) took Boston by storm when she graduated from SFD, earning media coverage on a global stage for her bridal designs. Candice has shown her work at New York, Los Angeles, and Boston Fashion Weeks, as well as at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the M.I.T. Museum. She received recognition from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. Her work has appeared in Vogue, Marie Claire, Fashion World Paris, Boston Magazine, Boston Globe, Improper Bostonian, and Upscale Living. 

After Chynna Pope (Class of 2015) debuted her first collection at Boston Fashion Week in 2014, she became a Designer in Residence at Kit and Ace. She also founded the Beacon Hill Bow Tie Club, where she outfitted Boston’s most well-dressed men in her classic yet distinctive bow ties, pocket squares, and cummerbunds made from vintage silk remnants. Today she operates her own bridal atelier in Los Angeles, Chynna Pope Designs. Down in Miami, Venezuelan-born Ashley Stambouli (Class of 2018) specializes in crafting chic and sophisticated women’s collections and custom couture gowns in her Ashley Stambouli Atelier.  

Boston based designer Salome Bissa Kona (Class of 2019) wears many hats, figuratively and literally, in her work to preserve millinery craftsmanship and the slow art-making process. From her Elöre Design studios and showroom, Salome pours her heart, soul, and experience into meticulously crafting every hat, using traditional techniques and durable materials to create unique bespoke and limited-edition hats.  

Adapting to a Changing World 

When the 2020 global pandemic disrupted SFD’s hands-on in person learning experience, the school’s faculty and administration adopted a robust online learning model so that students could continue work toward their Certificate without disruption. Faculty ran live online demos in sketching, garment construction, pattern making, and French draping, and also introduced new shorter online talks and demos aimed at “stuck at home” audiences eager for creative outlets. While the SFD curriculum still favors an in-studio approach, several courses are now permanently offered online, and students have insider access to hundreds of online short demo videos to assist them with learning and retention. 

No stranger to a challenge, Ukrainian-born Lidiya Romanchuk (Class of 2022) began at SFD before the pandemic and persevered through to complete her Certificate in 2022. Her intricately zippered and dazzling couture designs for stage and pageantry have earned her an impressive client list of performers like Amanda Mena, Rozita Fishta, and Mrs. World International. Lidiya’s careful documentation of the complexity of her work, coupled with her unstoppable spirit, has captured media attention from Scene, Boston En Vogue, and Boston Man Magazine.  

Meanwhile, post-pandemic office vacancy in Boston presented SFD with an exciting opportunity. When space became available in the beautiful art nouveau Park Square Building, SFD packed up five stories of sewing machines, fabric, pattern tables and decades of memories from its Newbury Street location and moved around the block to its current brightly lit and spacious studios. Classes resumed in person at 31 St. James Ave in Fall of 2022, and SFD has been growing and thriving ever since. In the new space, SFD upgraded their computer labs and also introduced a new course in CAD 3D pattern drafting. 

The Future of Fashion Design  

To prepare for the start of their 90th academic year coming up in Fall of 2024, the school’s Board of Trustees were already planning SFD’s continued resilience and growth for the next ten years. A strategic plan adopted in 2023 focused on bolstering the brand strength of the school’s signature professional Certificate in Fashion Design, opening the doors to a wider community by offering a full suite of creative workshops and short programs, and ensuring the school’s long-term operational sustainability.  

2024 began a full year of milestones and celebrations around the school’s 90th anniversary academic year. Alumni, friends and supporters like Yolanda Cellucci, Elisha Daniels, friends of Jo Somers and others rallied to help raise funds that would double the amount of scholarships awarded to students this year. Pulling from its vast fashion archives, SFD also mounted a historical exhibit of local fashion imagery at Boston City Hall.  

In 2025, after nearly 15 years working with SFD on alumni relations, enrollment marketing and communications, Jennifer Leclerc assumed the role of Executive Director, overseeing the strategic advancement of the organization alongside Jim Hannon, who stepped into the role of Director of Operations. That spring, at the Collection 2025 student fashion show, SFD was honored with a commendation issued by the Office of Governor Maura Healey of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and City of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu sent in a touching personal message of congratulations to SFD and her friend Daniel Faucher. 

What’s next for SFD? 

Born during the golden age of Hollywood, the School of Fashion Design remains the only educational institution in New England focused exclusively on fashion design. The dedication and commitment of its faculty, staff and Board, along with the stellar accomplishments of the alumni, have punctuated SFD’s history and proven the transformative power of a fashion education. As we look ahead to the 100th anniversary of the School of Fashion Design, it will be the collective talent of faculty, students, alumni, and community that will ensure this continued success story that is still being written. 

You’ve read about our history, now read about our future! The School of Fashion Design 2025 Strategic Plan Executive Summary