Member Biographies
Megan Haupt ~ Founder, Project Coordinator, Teacher
Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/needlethread71/
Megan began sewing at an early age, after being signed up for embroidery classes at Sears when she was seven. Both her mother and grandmother were avid sewers. She studied Theater at Temple University in Philadelphia and pursued costume design and freelance sewing upon graduation. She has worked in theaters in both Chicago and Philadelphia as a designer and in wardrobe, including: Steppenwolf Theatre Co., Joffrey Ballet Co., Philadelphia Theater Co., and Pig Iron Theatre. In 2000, she was a recipient of the Leeway Foundation’s Window of Opportunity grant to study costume design and beading techniques under Master Artist, Chamroeun Yin. While working for United Way SEPA, she discovered a talent for project management and coordination. In 2005, she combined her background in sewing and the arts with her coordinating skills and Philadelphia Sewing Collective was born! Megan currently works as a Career Advisor at the Art Institute of Philadelphia for the Fashion Design department. She supports her work at AIPH with her connections and partnerships through Philadelphia Sewing Collective. Her focus is on the preservation of craftsmanship in sewing and handwork. Megan's sewing interests include: couture finishing techniques, heirloom sewing, blackwork, beading, and embroidery. She is personally interested in sustainability and that informs much of her work with sewing projects and PSC. She is committed to making sewing skills and resources available to all and most importantly to connect with like-minded people of all backgrounds about sewing, whenever possible.
Christine Phillips ~ Member, Instructor,
Fabric Row Tour Guide
Website: www.tiesthatbindonline.com
Christine Phillips is an accomplished designer with a charismatic personality and fresh design approach that makes her quality fashions treasured by her clientele. Encouraged early in life to develop her creativity and entrepreneurial spirits, she credits her maternal grandfather who was a small business owner and her grandmother who was a highly successful seamstress. In the third grade, she created her first product for her favorite teacher; a yellow and white checkered cotton pique pocketbook. As a senior in high school, she received the prestigious Golden Key Award from University of the Arts- an award usually reserved for college students. Spurred on by this recognition, she honed her craft as a merchandiser and quality control designer while working to receive her Bachelor of Science Degree in Fashion Design from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences. She then shared her love of fashion with aspiring students by teaching a fashion design class at a local high school.
 With over fifteen years
in the fashion industry, Crissy has flourished in the woman's apparel field.
She embarked on her own business venture in 1997 and opened a distinctive women's
boutique, Crissy's Closet, in historic Collingswood, NJ. Her company annually
received notoriety by local news sources.
Crissy Phillips is also a member of the Philadelphia Sewing Collective. Through
Philadelphia Sewing Collective, Crissy teaches several sewing classes including
Sewing Basics 1 & 2, “Little Black Dress”, and is the host of
the Fabric Row Tour. She runs a summer fashion boot camp and is the fashion
consultant on 104.9fm radio station, where she is known as the “Fashion
Guru”.
Described as a perfectionist in research and development, Crissy's goal is
to exceed customers expectations. She researches clothing designs, trims, beads
and materials and develops dyes and textures for fabrics. Crissy designs clothing
and accessories for every occasion using an array of exquisite fabrics. Her
specialty is couture formalwear and bridal with a fine eye for detail and embellishment.
Crissy introduced a new facet of her company in 2003: a men's fine neckwear
line called Ties That Bind, www.tiesthatbindonline.com. All of her lines are
distinguished because of her personal attention to fabric selection, color integration
and construction.
Crissy’s annual gala fashion shows are attended by growing audiences
and are consistently sold out. She selects an inspired theme and uses her creative
skills to design vibrant styles that carry through in the line she develops.
Her garments echo her clients’ diverse personalities, tastes and reflect
a timeless beauty.
Do it big, do it right. Give it class!
Kelly Cobb ~ Member, Instructor
Kelly Cobb utilizes costume design as a form of participation. "It is my way of contributing to Philadelphia's dynamic inter-art conversation." Since 2004 She has collaborated as costume designer with Headlong Dance Theater (Hotel Pool (2004) Accumulation Process (2004) and Mixed Tape For A Bad Year (2005) and Shosha (2006)).
Cobb holds a B.F.A. in Fiber from The Maryland Institute, College of Art and an M.F.A. in Sculpture from The University of Florida. She teaches at The Maryland Institue, College of Art in Baltimore and Drexel University.
Cobb's ongoing creative venture Garment Research explores the cross-section of performance art and sculpture by way of fiber/material studies. In this instance, the garment functions as a portable system of investigation, often combined with video, photography and sound to create sculptural systems capable of bridging the topography of the imagination with that of the tangible world.
Most recetly as part of the ICA/lure event a long green hour Cobb performed Night Gardeners, a durational performance featuring night-shift ?arden workers in specially designed outfits, cultivating mysterious species by the glow of dynamo-powered flashlights.
Blog: Legend in my Living Room
Website: http://jameelahere.tripod.com
Coming from a family of people with artistic sensibilities, Jameela had no choice but to love fashion. As a child, a combination of her favorite old movies and lessons from her grandmother inspired her to style ensembles for her and her friends for playacting as well as constructing wonderful clothes for her dolls.
Jameela's inspiration for actually pursuing a career in fashion solidified for her when she illustrated a design in junior high that she herself dimissed as unwearable and kooky and later saw a Paris design in a magazine similar to her idea on the runway! (Selling for $17,000 by the way)
 After studying design at the former Tracey-Warner in Philadelphia, she was able to mentor under a notable Philadelphia born designer Kelvin Rice. Under Kelvin, Jameela learned about the promotional side of fashion including producing a fashion show, public relations, and catalog and magazine photography. Although no longer an assistant to Kelvin Rice, she continues to work with him on various projects.
Currently, Jameela's work consists of freelance work for several companies. In addition, she is currently working on two separate, but sister clothing lines that will carry her own private labels.
Despite the casualization of modern culture, it is her dream that the world will come to truly appreciate fine craftsmanship once again and go back to traditional elements of fashion with a new twist. She has a love for embroidery, beading, trapunto, fabric painting, ribbon work, and good old fashion tailoring. With those elements, she also believes it is possible to revive the community spirit with projects in the same way American women of colonial times created it with quilting.
Website: http://www.blckbts.com/
 Hi, Im Shannah of BlckBts. This is the name of my business that is slowly coming to life. I will specialize in hand dyed textiles, fashion accesories, and stationary. I found the sewing collective in Feb. of 2006 and joined to network with other artists. My grandma started teaching me to sew when I was six. The first thing I remember making were barbie clothes. I did challege my grandma by trying to staple the clothes together. I soon found out that barbie didnt like to get poked by the stapler and I would need to be more patient with the sewing machine.
Since my first sewing experience I have gone on to incorporate sewing into my creative process. I fell in love with fabric all over again after taking a textile dying and resist class. Now I spend most of my free time trying not to contaminate my kitchen or dye my bath tub as I create new fabrics at home. I am constantly trying new processes and perfecting the ones I already know. My interestes go beyond fibers to photography, printmaking, and collecting creepy antique toys and dolls.
Fixed Stitchery
Mom's unearthed, 1974 avocado green, Sears Kenmore sewing machine in preteen years led to hours spent perfecting the highly desired late 80s tapered leg jean (fold and roll no more!). For the next 20 years, modifications to ill-fitting or weathered clothing have been in constant practice. A strong appreciation of vintage fabrics, that retain their integrity and aesthetic appeal, evolved into a desire to utilize such fabrics for new purposes, including household goods, appliqués, and the eternal quest for the perfect bag.
While sewing machine time maintained itself as a quiet and favored activity, a ten-year career as a brain injury therapist did not leave the necessary time and creative energy to further develop the crafting skills and design outcomes that were daydreamed and diagrammed. In July 2005, early retirement from the human services career was sorted out and the concept of "Fixed Stitchery" was developed.
In a continued effort to fulfill the innate drive to help others solve their problems, and a belief in preserving goods that can be repaired or modified rather than discarded (except for really stylish older people... they should continue to donate their clothing to the thrift store so that I can buy them), efforts are being devoted to develop a client base that is seeking creative solutions to their clothing dilemmas. While preference lies in altering and repairing, additional projects have included the uniquely/individually sized set of curtains for a house boat, vestibule and window draperies for several Philadelphia restaurants, and a great many general home textile projects for fellow nesters.
Website: http://day-shift.com
Website: http://knittingcommunity.org
 dayShift is my day-job. I am primarily an artist - though my artwork is tied to textiles, their production and those who produce them. dayShift also fulfills some of my other interests like sustainability and participation in smaller, alternative economies.
All dayShift items are hand-made, by me, out of mostly recycled and recovered materials. I receive generous amounts of “throw-away” fabric and thread from a local drapery maker and find the remainder of my materials in my mom’s attic or local thrift stores. I try to buy used whenever possible -although there will always be some new elements to each piece. I try to maintain consistency in the fabrics I recover - nearly always using natural and fine fibers like silk, wool, angora, cashmere and cotton.
 Lauren's first exposure
to sewing and fabric art was at age 5 when she learned to cross-stitch.
Over the next 20 years her skills developed through lessons from family friends
in knitting, basket weaving and teaching herself sewing with a machine.
While studying sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, what
was once a hobby grew into a method for creating soft sculpture with paper,
wire mesh and a variety of fabrics and threads. Over the past few years,
the skill of sewing has enabled Lauren to work independently as an artist and
offer freelance services to the community. Her side-work consists of creating
a variety of bags and clutches made from vintage fabrics, designing and appliqué
on sweaters and tees, and simple alterations. She also specializes in
home décor working with cliental to create custom drapery, bedding, and
more.
Lauren is currently finishing her BFA at the University of Pennsylvania and hopes to become more involved in community outreach here in Philadelphia as well as on a national and international level. She feels her innate abilities will be best used in helping others become self-reliant, confident, and expressive with a skill that has endless possibilities.
Website: http://www.nicolerae.net
Nicole graduated from University of the Arts in Philadelphia with a BFA in Crafts and Fibers. Nicole has been sewing and creating since she was very young. She works with found textiles, old lace, and interesting textures to create a whispy, layered fabric, painting-like design that she uniquely sews on to vintage slips, camis, tees, tanks, hoodies, and gowns. She also creates belts and purses. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind work of art!
Website: www.flickabags.com
The idea to form Flicka Bags came to former Columbus Dispatch reporter Alice Cervantes on assignment last year.
While waiting for hours with scores of journalists in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for the return of a Marine Corps unit from Iraq, she looked around and noticed every one carried their equipment - laptops, cameras, lenses, briefcases with papers - in the same kind of boring, black bag.
After the story was filed and she returned home, she launched a search for a more stylish satchel. She had just a few requirements: It had to be practical - light weight but sturdy and big enough but not too big - and absolutely, positively, something other than standard-issue black.
When she failed to find what she was looking for, Alice made her own bag - a funky messenger in a bold print with a slim laptop sleeve that fit neatly inside.
She began designing other bags and moved to Philadelphia with her husband, who had taken a job there. She received compliments on her designs and started making custom bags for her friends. Flicka Bags was born with a Web site (www.flickabags.com) and a trusty Singer Rocketeer sewing machine, circa 1962.
The word Flicka means girl in Swedish. The inspiration for choosing the name came from a year Alice spent living in Sweden - the first time she had to pick up and carry her life's possessions. The name is also telling of her design aesthetic: playful prints paired with practical designs.
Flicka Bags are named for places, a concept representing the many destinations where life will take us.
"Here's wishing you a well-equipped trip!"
Website: www.jypsea.com
jypsea (prononced gypsy) - eclectic hand-crafted hats, belts, bags, and other fabulously funky accessories for fabulously funky individuals created by diy indie designer Terina McKinney. A cool mix of unique vintage finds is added in the mix for good measure.
Sewing began at the age of 6 for New Jersey native, Terina McKinney, learning to sew from her mother who was a seamstress and made all of her clothes. Terina's artistic abilities were discovered and nurtured while she attended an exclusive art magnet program in her school district. By the 7th grade she married both her interest in sewing with her artistic talents and decided she wanted to be a fashion designer.
She earned her degree in Accessory Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and studied fashion design and patternmaking, earning a certificate in patternmaking at Newark, NJ's Fashion Design Training Studio.
She honed her skills and a designer and patternmaker in the fashion industry in New York City and Atlanta, GA before deciding to go out on her own. Her website features her line of hip and edgy headwear and coordinating clutches and a collection of found vintage pieces.
Her portfolio can be viewed at
www.styleportfolios.com/portfolio.php?username=terinamckinney.
If you are seeking fabulously chic and unique accessories at very affordable prices visit www.jypsea.com
Website: www.janellepietrzak.blogspot.com
Janelle Pietrzak has a BFA in Fashion Design from Virginia
Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia. She still
feels her Southern roots though, even after moving to Brooklyn, and
then on to Philadelphia. She has been working since 2003 as a fashion
designer, but has been a crafter nearly all her life. Currently she
stretches across spinning, knitting, embroidering, sewing, making
jewelry, and antiquing.
Janelle first learned sewing in high school from her mother. After
not finding the clothes she wanted in stores, she quickly learned how
to manipulate patterns to fit her needs. She stills makes clothes for
herself, always dreaming up new designs! Janelle once had an altered
t-shirt line that sold in stores from 2002 - 2003. Now she creates
accessories for her line Greta & Lux, which is sold online. See more
of Janelle at her online portfolio
©2006 Philadelphia Sewing Collective
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