I’m Jess, and I’m a costume technician. I was born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia. I learned to sew at an early age from my mother, who is a quilter. When I was in elementary school, my mother created a quilt for the school for visiting authors to sign; because I assisted her in the fabric selection, she asked me to sign the back of the quilt under her signature. I dreamt of becoming a writer, and thought that maybe one day that signature would mean something more.
I attended Vassar College and graduated with a BA in English in 2011. While there, I worked as a technical assistant in the drama department costume shop for three years. At the time, it was just a job for me, and a welcome escape from my studies. It was also a wonderful opportunity to learn new and interesting sewing skills. By the end of my college career, I had lost my passion for writing, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.
So I found work in the only job I had ever known, starting as a volunteer sewing costumes at a nearby theatre. One afternoon a few days before opening, the costume designer called to ask if I could spend some time that evening helping her finish the costumes. I remember sitting in a corner of the upper lobby of that theatre, frantically sewing at my machine in the background of a children’s theatre class, and knowing that I’d found my passion again – in costumes.
I spent the next four years working at various theatres in the Philadelphia area. Then, I went to CCM – University of Cincinnati, to get my degree in Costume Design and Technology (graduated April 2018). Since then, I have been working as the Cutter/Draper at Hale Center Theater Orem in Utah.
My approach to costume building combines both precise and scientific patterning with more organic and fluid drapes, and the understanding of when to apply each skill set. I am equally comfortable flat patterning and draping. My favorite costumes to create are menswear or menswear-inspired garments. I am known for being intuitive, meticulous, and fast.
In my spare time, you will find me hanging out with my cat, Knickerbocker. I like taking the time to make good food. I run regularly. Reading is still a hobby of mine. And I’m always working on some sort of personal crafting project – embroidery, crocheting, knitting, sewing, or quilting.
