Hi, I’m Laura Volpintesta
mentor, author, educator, designer. coach, and founder of Fashion Illustration Tribe.
I’ve been teaching fashion technical design and fashion illustration at Parsons School of Design for over 27 years!!
I founded Fashion Illustration TRIBE to take everything that I had taught in my decades at the university and working in the fashion industry in NYC, and translate it into my ideal lessons, courses and projects so that i can truly teach everthing that I consider most important to a fashion design student to get the firmest foundation to fly off from, without getting lost in loads of digital courses that skim over the physical fundamental skills of draping, drawing, sewing, patternmaking, and crafting gorgeous illustrations and garment designs and samples with our own hands and hearts..
I wanted to make fashion education and art, craft, information, development available to creatives like you, like me all over the globe.
I wanted moms to have access from home.
I wanted scheduling not to interfere with their educations. I wanted students to be able to replay classes and lessons until they felt confident with the material, and to be guaranteed that they could get access to me to answer their pressing questions.
We don’t always have the flexibility or the luxury of moving to a major city, spending tens of thousands on the education, or putting the rest of your life on hold to begin.
FASHION DESIGN is the kind of thing you can start learning TODAY. Fashion ILLUSTRATION is the kind of thing you can start learning TODAY! Patternmaking, draping, technical drawing, specs, flats, ALL OF IT!
Even if you think ” you can’t draw”, prepare yourself to be surprised, amazed. The AMAZEMENT that students experience in my classrooms is why I love to do what I do.
Even I am amazed what people can do
when they are supported and believed in.
When they have access to the resources they need. (you can watch your videos again and again in my programs, and have access to my expertise, feedback, and cozy private community!)
I’m amazed what people can do when they are learning in an environment that supports and accepts them where they are at. You have a family, another career along with your studies? You’re retired, you’re in high school? This diversity is what makes us rich. Many perspectives, backgrounds, many dreams and approaches. Many voices.
AS A FASHION EDUCATOR
and designer for over 20 years I’ve taught over a thousand students, about 97 percent of them were women. but the environment was not “woman shaped” in its structures.
This became sharper in clarity for me when I was “let go” twice when I had babies, even after being a 17 year veteran, I was a full time faculty who was pressed to resign so I could be with my baby, by having my schedule increased after she was born.
I KNEW I WANTED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS MORE FLEXIBLE LIKE OUR LIVES REQUIRED.
AS far as “woman shaped fashion study” goes, …We were even taught to sketch unrealistic bodies that couldn’t exist in reality. That doesn’t make any sense to me. FASHION IS MEANT TO BE WORN BY HUMANS!!!
I want us to celebrate women and humans by designing for them as they are.
TO CELEBRATE CULTURE.
Adornment. Traditions. Fabrics. Textures. Techniques. Resources.
As a fashion student
I didn’t know how to draw when I started.
I had amazing teachers who taught me to see the world in an entirely new way!
They taught me how to use my hands, eyes, soul and materials in new ways, from sewing to fashion illustration.
It blew my mind and I’ve enjoyed these skills and memories every day of my life since then.
I want this for you.
I want you to experience transformation, liberation, adventure, excitement, exploration, discovery.
As a fashion designer,
I had the good fortune to work in leathers, in jackets and outerwear, , in swimwear and beach coverups, in knitwear and sweaters, in outerwear, denim, in a range of situations and studios!
I worked as a first pattern and samplemaker, flat sketcher, fashion illustrator, tech pack and spec technician, custom bridal designer.
I had the good fortune to work in baby, menswear, childrenswear, as well as womenswear in juniors, missy, plus size, and maternity!
A wide variety of design situations and categories is a great explosure.
I’m a mom who created a business from scratch,
so I know what it’s like to learn something from a beginner’s stance!
I built Fashion Illustation Tribe’s suite of fashion design courses in order to to be near my children , and so I understand if that’s the way you need to study :0) too!
I created a way for you to study on your timeline, in your space, in a way that honors the life you are in.
A wayhat also honors the HUGE GIFT and vision dwelling in your heart.
Professional and creative
heart-led and without limits.
Let me share the quality fashion design online classes I’ve been teaching and devceloping overy my 27 year fashion education and design career, dismantling myths about art and fashion design and knowing exactly where most students struggle and need clarity in order to flourish.
MY GREATEST WISH IS
TO PROVIDE a strong foundation of key skills for you to spring off of with greater technical facility to be creative .
And supporting your progress and journey.
Helping you customize it.
My books and videos, all come from my love of this incredible art form, fashion design, that I got to study in NYC and Paris at a very unique moment in the history of fashion design
Now I live in CT with my three kids, a single mom and now entrepreneur.
I welcome your questions and suggestions!
Info@fashionillustrationtribe.com
What would YOU do if YOU KNEW-
If these skills became a part of the way you moved, created, and expressed yourself in your everyday life from now on????
…and how can I help?
Drop me a line and make sure that you check out my freebie in the popup window .
love
Laura
