Celebrating 30 Years of Apparel Arts
Register for Winter Classes Now!
Hello fellow patternmaking and sewing enthusiasts,
I started Apparel Arts in October 1996, in a modest 600-square-foot loft above a catering company in San Francisco and grew into a vibrant 4,500-square-foot studio in Oakland, complete with multiple classrooms and an exceptional faculty of talented and inspiring instructors. Along the way, we have navigated many challenges, including the pandemic, yet Apparel Arts continues to thrive three decades later. A celebration is in order!
I am grateful to still be doing what I love every day. Apparel Arts would not exist without the wonderful community that has supported us throughout the years. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and encouragement have made this journey possible, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Winter 2027 Class Registration is now open. Please note that with the exception of Pattern Drafting-2 Moulage/Bodice, all classes are offered ONLY once a year. Be sure to register early to secure your spot and build your pattern drafting and construction skills in 2027.
Don't forget to check out the professional tips videos at the end of each newsletter. Click to sign-up. We are on our final two of an eight-part series on sewing open work fabric (fabric where holes or openings are used as a design element, like crochet and some lace fabrics).
Want to know what students are saying about Apparel Arts' classes? Check out our testimonials.
We look forward to seeing you in a class!
Suzy
January 13 - March 20, 2027
Small class sizes. Weekly online classes through Zoom.
ABOUT
With over 35 years of experience in the fashion industry, Suzy Furrer is the Founder and Director of Apparel Arts (established in 1996) and Apparel Arts Productions, an online fashion design school (established in 2020). Apparel Arts has successfully trained hundreds of students who are now employed in the apparel and costuming sectors.
Suzy's expertise extends to corporate training as well, as she has been an instructor for GAP Inc.’s Product Development Immersion Program and has led classes for employees at Pixar and Lucas Films.
In addition to her teaching and leadership roles, Suzy is the author of Building Patterns and has been instructing online pattern drafting classes for Craftsy.com since 2011.
We are excited to announce that Landauer Publishing has re-released Building Patterns!
You can order your hardcover with spiral or paperback versions below.
Suzy is a wealth of information... an excellent instructor giving clear and simple instruction even for the most difficult tasks."
– Susan F
I tried two bodice pattern drafting methods before trying your course, and neither gave me such a solid first draft!”
– Madeline J