Ana Kuzmanić is Yugoslav born costume designer for theatre and opera. Her theatrical career started while studying costume and fashion design at the Academy of Applied Arts and Design in Belgrade. Since 2003 Ana’s design work has been seen on Broadway, off Broadway, in the UK and Australia. Nationally Ana designed costumes for the Goodman Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, McCarter Theatre Center, Washington Shakespeare Theatre Company, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, Steppenwolf Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre, The Geffen Playhouse and Oregon Shakespeare Festival among many others. Her costume designs have been honored with Drama Desk, Helen Hayes, Henry Hewes and Joseph Jefferson nominations and awards. Her designs for the opera include Don Giovanni at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, directed by her long-time collaborator Tony Award winning director Robert Falls and world premiere of Eurydice a new opera composed by Matthew Aucoin, with the libretto by Sarah Ruhl and the direction by Tony Award winning director Mary Zimmerman with whom Ana collaborated on several pieces including Steadfast Tin Soldier and Treasure Island. Metropolitan Opera premiere of Eurydice is slated for November 2021. Ana has designed for her fashion label from 1993 to 2001. She is currently an Associate Professor of costume design at Northwestern University in Evanston, USA.

anakuzmanic.com

Today Eco aware art gallery introducing Antoaneta Tica From Romania. She is a visual artist with many years of related work experience, as well as portfolio of varied accomplishments, including exhibitions, performances and academic achievements. From performances to wearable arts and textile works, Antoaneta Tica art pieces interrogate the relationship between human, nature and evolution. Interested in climate change and environmental awareness, the artist creates mainly with recycled materials, which she transforms through personal methods. In recent years, she has turned her attention in particular to pollution, as she considers it one of the negative aspects that is getting worse and worse, negatively affecting both man and nature. However, her practiced technique conveys a feeling of positive attitude towards our natural world. Possessing a strong sense of artistry and forward-thinking consistently displayed across all art pieces, the artist stands out through the meticulous way of working with recycled materials (plastic, egg cartons, textile scraps), constantly finding new shapes, materiality and 3d textures which make the original material unrecognizable in the final works. Her works have been displayed or performed at representative events all around the world.

The artist is a multiple award winner. Wearable Art Mandurah offered her twice the International Artist of the Year Award (2018 and 2019). She also received the REPLACE Award from Universal Sea (2018) for one of her wearable pieces made from 250 recycled plastic bottles. she is really a role model for so many peoples Eco Aware Art Gallery Proudly Presenting Her ECO WARRIOR Title and appreciate her efforts. Antoaneta Tica is a PhD in Visual Art, with both BA and MA in Fashion and Costume.

Autumn Adamme founded Dark Garden in 1989, initially focused on creating one of a kind historically inspired clothing, but by 1993 her true calling became corsetry. “The part of my work that is the most gratifying for me is seeing how corsets transform people - whether because pain has been instantly relieved for my medical clients, or a transwoman sees the outside match the inside, or a person who never thought they’d see their waist again sees their body held, uplifted, and with it, their spirits.
As a child I never felt I fit in anywhere and because of this, diversity and inclusion have been incredibly important to me from the very beginning. I have created at Dark Garden a safe place for everyone to explore the world of excellent corsetry, no matter their age, gender, size, ethnicity, creed, or sexuality.” Dark Garden has a team of nearly 20 individuals, all dedicated to the creation of exquisite corsetry, as comfortable as it is beautiful. www.darkgarden.com | IG @darkgardencorsetry

Photo Credit: Portrait Autumn Adam wearing a corset that Mr. Pearl and she co-created. Joel Aron Cinematography Light & VFX Director Lucasfilm Animation, Ltd., San Francisco

Meet creator and artist Barbara Pesendorfer. Royal Black is a couture label based in Vienna/Austria, which has specialised in finest handcrafted corsetry, couture costumes and evening wear. Designer and master tailoress Barbara Pesendorfer founded Royal Black back in 2006 and creates couture constructed to her own designs and patterns for more than 17 years now. Perfect fit, exquisite fabrics and workmanship at highest stage are the trademark of each Royal Black creation, whilst a mixture of classic couture and tailoring techniques and new technologies like lasercutting, engraving or 3D printing turn each garment into a unique piece of wearable art.

photo courtesy of the artist

Chie Ono is a Costume Artist born in Tottori Prefecture, Tottori City currently residing in Kyoto, Japan who specializes in costumed pieces exploring and exploiting materials as a method of expression. Those expressions view textiles from a new perspective to create performance pieces and installations. She works in various venues designing for drama and performance and is a part time lecturer of costume design at Seian University of Art and Design in Kyoto. Ms. Ono was selected for participation in the World Stage Design 2013 and was a prize winner at the World Stage Design 2016. Her work was selected for the exhibition in Moscow curated by the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, Innovative Costume of the XXI Century: The Next Generation celebrating the work of emerging designers from over 30 countries.

chieono.com | @ono.couture

Dragana Vučetić graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade in 2005, at the Department of Stage Costume. She completed her master's degree in 2008, at the University of Connecticut, where she continued to work as a theater costume designer and illustrator. Dragana is currently completing her doctoral studies at the University of Arts in Belgrade, Department of Digital Arts.

She participated in exhibitions among which we can single out: 2019 Innovative Costume of 21st Century: Next Generation, Moscow; 2016 solo exhibition SKETCHES, Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade; 2014 Body Boundaries, Cultural Center Belgrade; 2009 Clambake, Lincoln Center, New York and 2008 Design Showcase West Freud Playhouse, Los Angeles.

Dragana is employed as a teaching assistant at the College Of Textile Design, Technology and Management. She is frequently hired as a costume designer and storyboard artist for commercial videos. She works as a costume illustrator for movie productions including Voyagers, Hustlers and The Aftermath in the recent years.

The current theatrical corset business has blossomed servicing clients ranging from rock stars and actors to historic reenactors. One of the well-known modern corset-making businesses today is Period Corsets in Seattle, Washington, and like its historic counterparts, it is owned and operated primarily by women. Hilary Specht employs nine other specialists: Orion Barker (head corset and pattern maker, historian and inventor), Kristine Barker (petticoat head and in charge of various skirt structural supports), Doris Black (second cutter / pattern maker), Maddie Powell, Megan Dellario, Anna Couglin, Stefanie McClelland (stitchers), and Becky Kaufman (former owner and consultant).  Sara Lanzillotta is production and office manager. They work like a family of strong individuals taking great pride in being in a female led business.

The business began as a costume shop, but the workload demand gravitated towards corsets and underpinnings.  Each garment is custom-made in Seattle, but the business boasts a national and international clientele in theatre, film and television.  Period Corsets specialize in providing historically-accurate reproductions, but often they create custom one-of-a-kind unique designs. They are known for precision construction and attention to detail, and they have often innovated new patterning techniques. They work to make the corsets comfortable, stressing that a good corset corrects posture rather than decreases waist circumference. 

www.periodcorsets.com  @periodcorsets

Rainbow Curve Corsetry was founded in 2015 by Joni Steinmann. She was trained as a textile conservator, but always had a passion for alternative fashion and geeky hobbies. She longed to be able to express her creativity more fully, but her trained profession did not offer the outlet she desired. Eventually she could no longer ignore the urge to create after following a corsetry course taught by Annet from La Garotte corsets. Visiting the 2015 Oxford Conference of Corsetry pushed her forward to launch Rainbow Curve Corsetry, turning a craft and passion into a fashion label.

Today, she creates colorful wearable art in the form of handmade corsetry and fantasy gowns from her atelier and also known for her creative, otherworldly style and eye for detail. Through colorful, high-quality materials and workmanship, she offers bespoke fashion to clients of any body type and believes in inclusiveness as colorful as the label suggests. The designs are inspired by Art Nouveau, Victorian & Edwardian fashion, nature, and high fantasy, and are created with a touch of otherworldly magic. 

rainbowcurvecorsetry.com | @rainbowcurvecorsetry

Katarzyna’s costumes are from the popular entertainment world and she is sought by American artists such as Dave LaChapelle, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna. In Poland, she dressed Doda, Steczkowska, Rodowicz, Urbańska, Nergal and many other celebrities.

Konieczka’s corsets give a nod to the bionic woman in the Crash Collection photos but, in different instances, show the torturous use of medical appliances to gain bodily perfection.

On the right is Royal Oddity, 2010, photographed by Maciej Boryna, with makeup & hair by Ania Rozka/MILK and the model is Paulina Klimczak from NEW AGE.

notjustalabel.com | @katarzyna_konieczka_costumes

Lauren’s piece Angle is based on the 1952 film of The Greatest Show on Earth. Lauren Millar finished a degree in Costume design in Auckland, New Zealand in 2017. She now works in the film industry in the costume department as well as making projects at home in her spare time. This is one of her favorite pieces and it was a joy to make, if somewhat challenging at the time. Angle was chosen as one of seven pieces to represent New Zealand for the exhibition, Innovative Costume of the XXI Century: The Next Generation in Moscow, 2019. She is so pleased it is getting displayed again.

 @little_lollimz

Lian Zhu is a Graduate of Yunnan Minzu University with a major in Fine Arts.  She worked with the Yunnan provincial song and dance ensemble as a national Second-Class Stage Designer.  Her production credits there included: Dragon River, Dragon Man, Fantasy Fight, Glorious Singapore, Angkor’s Smile, and Singing in the Yunling Mountain.  Her award and exhibitions include: Passion Yunnan ( World Expo, Shanghai, 2010 -  first prize in fashion design); costume designs for the dance Fantasy Fight (National Stage Art Award, Beijing China, 2011).  Yunnan Ethnic Fashion Series (Third China Stage Art Exhibition, Beijing,China, 2015).   Forida IDC  (Best Costume Design, International Dance Contest Finals Design Award, 2018). This piece was  also selected for the Exhibition of Excellent Contemporary Chinese Costume Designers in Fuzhou, and the Innovative Costume of the XXI Century: The Next Generation that opened in Moscow in 2019.

Matija is a Croatian born, London based textile and fashion artist. He graduated from Royal College of Art in 2017. Matija’s work is held in the permanent collection of Centre Pompidou, Museum of Modern Art in Paris. He worked for Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Artist commissions for The Hunger Games, Lady Gaga, Solange and Rihanna. His work was featured in British and Italian Vogue, Financial Times, Dezeen and exhibited at the Textile Art Biennial 2021 in Kranj, Innovative Costumes of 21 Century in Moscow, Eccentrico Musivo in Ravenna, Future Fashions in Eindhoven. 

centrepompidou.fr | @matijacop

Miodrag Guberinic is a New York-based designer and artisan. He grew up in Serbia and graduated from the FPU in Belgrade with a BFA in costume design, and graduated with an MFA in costume design from the NU in Chicago. His designs have been worn by Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, B Akerlund and Bianca Del Rio among others. His costume artisan work has been featured on numerous Broadway productions including ones currently on Broadway: Frozen, Head Over Heels, Mean Girls, Pretty Woman; TV shows: Mrs. Maisel, The Tick and last season of Gotham.

One of the pieces is a corseted costume, designed by Mio for a fashion editorial in Iceland with photographer Amber Gray. This piece was later used by Scarlett Johansson on Saturday Night Live and styled by Tom Broeker. Made of rivetted plastic mylar and metallic denim, it was later polished up and used for a piece of create art photography titled, NYX_I, 2018, shot by Jose Espaillat, in Brooklyn, NY. The model is Lily Gatins and the makeup is by Josephine Kong.

miodesignstudio | @MioDesignNYC

Legendary corset maker Mr. Pearl has designed for Dita Von Teese the famous burlesque queen, Kylie Minogue, Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian and L’il Kim among others.  Born in South Africa, Mark Pullen, found pleasure lacing his grandmother’s corset.  Fleeing to London, he worked as a dresser at the Royal Opera House by day and enjoyed the sexual freedom of the club life by night.  While in New York in 1992 at the age of 30 he was inspired by the famous tight-lacer Fakir Musafar and started wearing a corset.  In 1994 he began his corsetier business back in London achieving celebrity as “Pearl” working with legendary club owner, Leigh Bowery.  In 2002 after meeting fashion designer Thierry Muglier, he opened his atelier in Paris behind Notre Dame Cathedral and collaborated with John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood.  Mr. Pearl sees the art of corsetry not as a form of female repression but as a sexual enhancement and a form of discipline. His corsets, made without any form of modern technology, take several months to build.  His own waistline at the smallest was 46 cm (18.11”) and he wears his corset constantly except to bathe. 

@misterpearlofficial

Nika Danielska is an alternative fashion designer living in Wroclaw, Poland. She creates wearable artistic objects based mainly on skeletal designs. She was part of the impressive new work coming out of Eastern Europe at that time.  The most significant change was in the photography.  Many of the artists made items and then set them up in a performance art setting or studio for a photo shoot using their own theatrical theme or story.  They were often edgy and provocative to attract attention, and many had various constrictions involved.  This led me to focus on corsetry as its own art form to be worn out in the open as works of art.  With many new technological materials on the market, inventiveness is wild and varied.  The corset is the most complex garment that women wear, and they take a great deal of skill to create and fit.  As such they represent the pinnacle of design and skill and they are worn next to the skin making them uniquely personal with detailing to be seen up close.

nikadanielska.com | @nika_danielska_design

Has designed 150+ theater, opera, dance and film productions to her credit. Among others: Jedermann (Salzburg Festival, Austria); God’s Ear (Vineyard Theatre); “Judgement of Paris”, “Snow White”; Le Serpent Rouge”; “Betting On the Mouse” (Company XIV); Film I am a Seagull (Chekhov Project Company). Other New York work: American Symphony Orchestra; Here; CSC; New Georges; The Lucille Lake Project etc.

Olivera designs extensively for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Arden, Trinity Repertory and Juilliard School. Her regional work: Long Wharf Theatre; Pig Iron; Two River; Riverside Theatre; Playmakers; California Shakespeare; Shakespeare Santa Cruz; Drury Lane; Hanger; Pennsylvania Shakespeare; Barrington Stage; Theatre Works; American Stage, Actors Shakespeare Project, Folger, Hanger, ASF etc.

Olivera has been part of the US National Exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial 2004&2007 ; Curtain Call (Lincoln Center); Costume at the Turn of the Century (Moscow, Russia). Olivera is recipient of the NEA/TCG CDP for Designers, IT Award , TDF/Irene Sharaff Young Master Award , Barrymore Award and  Bessie Award Recipient for Outstanding Costume Design.  USA-local829

oliveragajic.com | @oliveragajic

Paloma Soledad has cultivated her eye for detail after years of working in Hollywood. Her early work as Costume Designer on Blockbusters such as, “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel” helped gain her worldwide attention. She was winner of the Judges Choice and Best in Show for three consecutive years, at Comicon in San Diego, Ca. In 2008, after two years of building miniature outfits for "Coraline", the Oscar nominated, stop-motion animated feature film from the Director of "The Nightmare Before Christmas”, she turned her focus onto the fashion world. 

In 2010 she co-founded MYTHAUS with Artist and co-designer Robb Kramer, as a collaboration blending the Fine Arts and fashion. In 2012 Paloma Soledad was named one of eight “Costume Designers turned Fashion Headliners” by Entertainment Weekly. In 2013 she moved to New York and started her brand of slow fashion for women. Each one of a kind garment combines handmade early 20th Century crochet, paired with rescued designer fabrics deemed too small for mass production.

shop.palomasoledad.com | @palomasoledad @kramerarts

After a career as a costume designer for theatre, film and the award-winning long-running Belgian television series Haus, Rita started creating jewelry design, thanks to her son, in his studio. She went on to finish a course becoming a certified goldsmith in Antwerp. Her jewelry is inspired by costume history, but with a twist, sometimes also with costume materials. She is part of a multi-artist atelier in Antwerp, where her work can be found.

Sasha Frolova was born in 1984 in Moscow. She graduated from an art school under the Moscow State Stroganov Academy of Industrial and Applied Arts and the National Institute of Design under the Union of Designers of Russia with a degree in Graphic Design. In 2006, she completed the New Art Strategies course, majoring in Contemporary Art, at the Institute of Contemporary Art (Moscow). Sasha Frolova is a member of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia and the International Federation of Artists, the Newest Trends section.

Provides artistic practice in the field of performance art and sculpture. Creates inflatable costumes and sculptures from latex and other materials. Author of Aquaaerobika project synthesizing performance art and electronic music.

In 2009, Sasha Frolova was a finalist of the Kandinsky Prize in the “Young Artist. Project of the Year” category. In 2013, Frolova was a finalist of the ARTE LAGUNA 12.13 Prize and won a special prize in the “Personal Exhibition” category. In 2014, Frolova won the “Alternative Miss World 2014” competition, London, UK. Sasha Frolova participated in various group exhibitions and festivals all over the world. In recent years, she had solo exhibitions at Federica Ghizzoni Gallery in Milan (2014), Manege Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow (2016), Luftmuseum in Germany (2017), Permm Museum in Russia (2017) and Moscow Museum of Modern Art (2020).

sashafrolova.com | @sashafrolova

Stefan Kerebic is a student of fashion and textile design from Belgrade, Serbia. The project is called “Second Skin”  initially inspired by Pedro Almodovars movie, “The Skin I Live In” The focus was on the physical human body and finding parallels between the body and slavery in it. The corset is designed to mimic the silhouette of a woman’s body inside a regular corset form. Cast from copper and divided into two parts,it gives the illusion of a body that is extremely tight in the shape of corset.

The making process tookmore than five months. A clay sculpture was made at the very beginning of the process, then a negative modls. The copper was poured into the concave mold, baked on more than 700 degrees and then finished with chrome.

Made in 2017 and first time displayed in State Historical Museum of Moscow while Stefan was at second year student at Serbia Academy of Technical Arts and Applied Studies, Belgrade, Serbia

@stefankerebic_

William Andrew Young is a professional costume maker based in Providence, Rhode Island. Originally from east Tennessee, William’s career includes having worked as a costume crafts artisan, milliner, and wardrobe supervisor for numerous regional professional theatres across the country, including the Clarence Brown Theatre in Knoxville, TN, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, and the Utah and Great River Shakespeare Festivals. His work has been nationally recognized by the United States Institute of Theatre Technology both for garment and costume craft excellence, and he is currently the draper for the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island.

williamayoung.com | @thecraftydraper

Yijung Huang attended the Shanghai Theatre Academy from 2008 until 2012 when this corset was on display. This piece was selected to represent China as a part of the exhibition Innovative Costume of the 21st Century: The Next Generation at the A.A. Bakhrushin State Theatre Museum, Moscow, Russia June-August 2019. Yijun Huang currently resides in Shanghai China.