Fashion Faculty

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Fashion)

Industry Credits:

• Founder and Creative Director : SANDOVAL Aromatics, SANDOVAL Ready Wear 
• Freelance Stylist : Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Gap, American Eagle, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, L’Oréal, Saks Fifth Avenue, Uniqlo, Another Magazine, iD, Purple, Teen Vogue
• Freelance Textile Designer : Calvin Klein Home, DKNY, Kenneth Cole, Louis Vuitton

Position: Instructor

Industry Credits:

• Visual Director and Director of Special Events, The Wilkes Bashford Company, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Carmel.
• Visual Merchandising Director and Assistant Art Director, bebe.
• Two of my illustrations are part of the permanent collection at MoMA, Museum of Modern Art, New York, as part of the 2017/18 exhibition, Club 57: Film, Performance, and Art in the East Village, 1978–1983.
• My visual display design and promotional marketing package for a new fragrance launch was featured in the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue New York, as well as in the windows of twenty other top Saks store locations nationwide.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Knitwear Design)

Bachelor of Fine Arts California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, California, Art)

Education: A.A., Fashion Design, The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM)

Industry Credits:

• Anjoma Couture, Owner/Designer, 1996 – 2005
• Billee’s Custom Shop, Owner/Designer 1978 – 1982
• Fashion Design Instructor, The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FiDM) 2004-2006
• CDFP/3D Design Instructor, The Academy of Art University, 2007 – present

Position: Instructor

Industry Credits:

• French Ministry of Culture Scholarship (2003)
• At the Paris-based fashion guide ModemOnline.com, I was the Editor of Modem Europe and developed relationships with organizers of fashion weeks and industry tradeshows in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Georgia, Scandinavia, Russia, and the US.
• Speaker on Fashion Wearable Tech at Silicon Valley conferences (Designers of Things, SV Code Camp) (2014-2015)
• At the PR Office of the School of Fashion, I helped produce the Graduation Fashion Shows in San Francisco and New York (starting 2016)

Education:

• BA in Theatre from the University of California, Davis
• MFA in Theatre Design & Technology from The Ohio State University

Industry Credits:

• Costume and set designs for the Folger Consort in Washington D.C., TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Opera San José and many colleges and universities
• Designs for Guggenheim Entertainment including productions at The Retro Dome and San José Playhouse including the first fully staged production of Schoolhouse Rock Live! In SF and the original musical, The MeshugaNutcracker! which is available on Broadway HD
• Honored with Best Costume Design for the Retro Dome’s, Thanks for Playing…The Game Show Show! and The MeshugaNutcracker! by BroadwayWorld.com
• Silicon Valley Artist Laureate
• Teaching various topics in costume design and production, costume history and scenery for many schools and colleges including: Mount Holyoke, College, West Valley College, Foothill College, Stanford University, The University of Las Vegas, The University of California, Santa Cruz, The Academy of Art in SF and for the professional Film and Television Costume Union, Local 705 in LA
• Free lances as a costume and scenic designer, designing over 200 productions and continues to work as a Draper/Tailor including working with Tony award winning Costume Designer, Ann Hould-Ward, on the world premiere of The Prince of Egypt and many other projects for private clients out of her studio

Bachelor of Fine Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Fashion Styling)

Position: Instructor

Industry Credits:

• Worked on marketing projects for clients such as Stetson, Nikon, Josie Maran Cosmetics, PYMNTS, and Google
• Patented technology: Virtual Reality Universe Realized as a Distributed Location Network (US 7298378)

Position: Part-Time Instructor

Education: B.A., Textiles and Fashion, Kingston University, UK

Accomplishments You Are Most Proud Of: The evolution of my career from designing sweaters to baby apparel to home textiles. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to expand & grow across multiple avenues w/in the design industry over the past 30 years!

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration San Francisco State University

Industry Credits: Entrepreneur of the year:  Federated Department Store, Macy’s West Coast Division

Bachelor of Fine Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Fashion – Styling)

15+ years of cosplay experience

Master of Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Fashion Art Direction)

Master’s Parsons the New School for Design (New York, New York, Fashion Management)

Master of Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Fashion Merchandising)

Education:BFA Fashion Design, Academy of Art University 2007

Industry Credits:

• VP Design Hugo Womenswear
  • Runway Collection at Berlin Fashion Week 2018
  • Runway Collection Debut at Pitti Uomo 2017
  • Vogue Australia Feature
• Design Director ZAC Zac Posen
• Designer Carolina Herrera New York
• Studio Assistant Zac Posen
• BFA Internship Award 2007 (with Guest of Honor Zac Posen)

Position: Instructor

Industry Credits:

• Fashion Show at NYFW, 2019

Position: Instructor

Education: Bachelor of Arts Business Administration  State University of New York at Albany

Industry Credits:

Over 30 years professional experience in the fashion apparel industry in retail buying and merchandising for Saks Fifth Avenue, Macys, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and Tailored Brands Inc.

Specific expertise in business planning, product procurement and divisional merchandise management.  Product category focus in Men’s Tailored Clothing, Sportswear & Accessories.

Education:

• MFA Fashion Design, Academy of Art University
• BBA Marketing, Minor in Fine Art, Angelo State University

Industry Credits:

• Petite Fit Specialist, Eileen Fisher, 2018-2020
• Technical Designer, Cut-and-Sew Knits, Eileen Fisher, 2015-2020
• Fall/Winter These Capsule, ArtU Collections at New York Fashion Week, 2015
• Production Coordinator and Pattern Maker, Abi Ferrin, 2011-2013

Education: Bachelor of Arts – Ohio State University (Columbus Ohio campus)

Industry Credits:

Over 25 years  working in the apparel industry with emphasis on merchandising product lines, sourcing, manufacturing, textile & product development.  My experience has focus on women’s contemporary, and children’s wear with brands IE: Jessica McClintock, Esprit de Corp, and DKNY.

Education:

• D., U.C. Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings College of the Law), 2001
• Georgetown Law Center, 2000–2001
• A., Speech Communication (minor: Philosophy), San Jose State University

Industry Highlights

• Widely recognized pioneer in U.S. fashion law.
• Launched the first Fashion Law Seminars at San Francisco Fashion Week (2005).
• Created the first fashion law seminar at a Northern California law school (UC Hastings).
• Developed the first West Coast fashion modeling law curriculum.
• Developed and taught the first fashion law course at California State University, Sacramento.
• Widely recognized pioneer in Afrobeats music law, shaping the legal landscape for cross-border rights, representation, and global industry development.
• Honored by numerous organizations including the National Bar Association, American Bar Association Journal, and American University Washington College of Law.
• Sought-after speaker and legal commentator, with appearances at the Fashion Law Institute, SXSW, the Wharton School of Business, and on media platforms including Al Jazeera, Fox 40 News, and WBLS 107.5FM.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Fashion)

Bachelor of Fine Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Knitwear)

Position: Adjunct Professor

Industry Credits:

• Director of Acquisitions & Curator at international Fashion Cafes (US, Europe, Asia)
• 2 TEDx talks on education innovation
• Fashion commentator in media (television, print) – featured in numerous television and print media sources ranging from newspapers such as London’s Sunday Times to television programs like Entertainment Tonight (USA)
• Style editor and journalist
• Upcoming book series on fashion & history for youth
• Author of multiple undergraduate and graduate level courses
• Mother to an awesome son and two fantastic daughters

Education

• M.A., technical design/pattern making, Moscow State University of Design and Technology, Moscow, Russia
• M.A., fashion and textile design, Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, Italy

Industry Credit

• Collaborated with designer Camelia Skikos to develop and execute garment patterns for her fashion collection.
• Presented my own ready-to-wear collection within San Francisco Fashion Week, at Temple Club, San Francisco, CA
• Featured in “Mob Journal” VOL 22 issue 43, year 2022 showcasing accessories by Lilit Safaryan
• Presented a fashion collection to support First Responders in San Francisco, CA in November 2020. The event helped to raise over $20,000. Featured in “Nob Hill Gazette”
• Was selected to participated as an artist in the juried exhibition at The 33rd, 34th, 36th, and 37th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition, Emeryville, CA, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023
• Featured in “Today’s Bride” winter 2020, vol.27 #1
• Participated as an artist at the Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA, 2020
• Designs featured at the Italian magazine ‘Pellicce Moda’ #2 March 2004

Education:

• Vogue Technological Institute of Knitting, Tokyo, Japan — Certificate in Machine Knitting and Hand Knitting Design Instruction
• Jissen Women’s College, Tokyo, Japan — Associate Degree in Clothing Science, Major in Clothing Design

Industry Credits:

• Knitwear Designer and Educator with 20+ years of teaching Knitwear Design and Construction at the Academy of Art University.
• Head Knitwear Designer for Sybilla and Jocomomola (ITOKIN Co., Tokyo), overseeing design and production for more than 70 department stores and franchised boutiques worldwide.
• Designed knitwear collections exhibited at Isetan Shinjuku Fashion Stage, Tokyo, 2016–2017.
• Freelance designer and consultant for the Spanish brand Sybilla, directing knitwear collections and production in Portugal and Spain.
• Head Knitwear Designer at Bigi Co. Ltd., managing multimillion-dollar knitwear budgets and overseeing both offshore and domestic production for the brand “Just Bigi.”
• Founder of HIBA Knitwear, an exclusive women’s line sold in high-end boutiques across San Francisco and the West Coast.
• Guest Lecturer on knitwear design collection at University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and American College of Art.
• Winner, 1983 Vogue Knitting Grand Prize (Knitwear Design in Machine Knitting Division).

Bachelor of Arts Evergreen State College (Olympia, Washington, Liberal Arts (areas of study: Art History and French))

Bachelor of Science California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, California, Business Administration)

Position: Instructor

Industry Credits:

• Andrea Skillings earned her MA in Fashion and Textiles from Parsons School of Design in New York. She has extensive experience in product development, design, merchandising, and manufacturing. Skillings spent the majority of her career in the childrenswear market, focusing on design and product development. She has extensive experience in wholesale and private label product development, including concept and collection development, technical packages, sourcing, costing, and production. With Kahn Lucas, Skillings developed key initiatives with fabric development and sample-making to improve product quality and reduce development and production costs.

Position: Instructor

Industry Credit:

• Faculty sponsor Beyond the Front Row
• Faculty Lead : Fashion Retail Store Launch and management and new course : The Real World of Retailing
• Lead Faculty for special projects published in 180 Magazine
• Authoring /teaching new courses in fashion history, marketing, and merchandising
• Featured speaker for online fashion trend presentation : The New Normal
• Lead /created Retail Immersion workshop for online fashion students in New York
• Attended New York Fashion Week School of Fashion Runway show
• Planned and executed charitable event launched through School of Fashion : Give 2 Take 1
• As Lead School of Fashion instructor , managed student run front of house and backstage dressing for designer Walter Von Beirondonk runway show at Berkeley Museum of Art

Position: Adjunct Instructor

Industry Credits:

• Menswear Designer, Perry Ellis NYC
• Senior Designer, Barry Bricken NYC
• Creative Director, Slates-Levi Strauss and Co.
• Design Manager, Target Corp.
• Managing Partner, Omni Pacific Sourcing, Ltd 4.

Education: B.S, Fashion Design, Philadelphia University (now known as Jefferson University)

Industry Credits:

• Guest Lecturer, Berkeley College, 2024:
• Jaguar, “Give Her a Crown” Series: Apparel Production Masterclass
• Fashion Skill Building Workshop: Fashion Costing

Bachelor of Arts University of California, Irvine (Irvine, California, English)

Master of Fine Arts Academy of Art University (San Francisco, California, Costume Design)

Education

• BA (HONS) FASHION DESIGN, University of Northumbria at Newcastle
• BTEC ND FASHION DESIGN, Birmingham city University

Industry Credits:

• CALVIN KLEIN. 205 WEST 39th St, NEW YORK, NY 10018. June 2013 – September 2020
  – HEAD OF WOVEN DESIGN / SENIOR MENSWEAR RTW DESIGNER
  The former Head of Design & RTW Senior Menswear Designer at Calvin Klein, New York, working with Creative Leaders: Tim Coppens, Raf Simons, Pieter Mulier, and Matthieu Blazy. Sponsored to relocate to New York, by the iconic Calvin Klein for extraordinary ability in the arts.
• JONATHAN SAUNDERS. 125-127 MARE ST, LONDON, E8 3RH. June 2012- June 2013
  – MENSWEAR DESIGNER
• RICHARD NICOLL, 19-23 KINGSLAND RD, LONDON, E2 8AA. August 2007 – January 2012
  – WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER | BESPOKE TAILOR
• ANNA SUI, New York. Women’s RTW Intern and Design Assistant. Assisting Anna and the design team. Designed Lenny Kravitz silver biker outfit.
• SAVILE ROW TAILORING APPRENTICESHIP: Awarded by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylor’s, established in 1327, for service at Gieves & Hawkes, Savile Row, London.
  https://www.savilerowbespoke.com/2010/07/successful-apprentices-2010/
• WINNER OF MERCHANT TAYLOR’S GOLDEN SHEARS AWARD 2005. Golden Shears Award – Best Bespoke Tailor. Silver Shears Award – Best Womenswear. Presented winning Golden Shears outfit at the V&A Museum.