Lab Assistant
FAS 101
am21747@harpercollege.edu
Mariana is a laid-back fashion entrepreneur. Her journey began with a degree in Fashion Design and over 30 years immersed in the industry. From the vibrant scene of Chicago, where she collaborated with renowned designers, to her childhood roots, nurturing a genuine love for fabrics. Her craft extends beyond design; it is not just about making clothes; it is about patternmaking and garment-fitting. She is always on the lookout for funky ways to blend fabrics, patterns, and design—never settling for the ordinary but crafts some seriously unique vibes and design.
FAS 100
sczachor@harpercollege.edu
Sharon Czachor, a life-long passionate sewer/designer has been teaching for many years at Harper College. Classes she has taught include Industrial Sewing Techniques (beginning and FAS113 Advanced), Intro to Design, and CAD Pattern Drafting. She is currently focusing on FAS100 which includes the Little Black Dress inspired by the theme of the annual Fashion Show in Spring. These dresses are shown at the Jury Show.
She is the author of Sewing with Knits and Stretch Fabrics Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers, which has been translated into Chinese. The 3rd edition includes video demonstrations of sewing techniques and is available to students through Bloomsbury Publishing. She has been an on-line instructor for several years and has taught classes through Continuing Education at Harper, District 214 and College of DuPage.
A Fashion Group International award-winning designer, she is a member of the Haute Couture Group of Chicago, the American Sewing Guild and NWS Needleart Guild.
FAS 116; FAS 208
ga35708@harpercollege.edu
With a decade of experience bridging industry and academia, Anu holds a master's in Fashion and Apparel Studies from the University of Delaware. Her industry tenure encompasses roles working with Victoria's Secret, Pink, Shimmy Apparel Technologies in NY, and Authentic Brand Apparel, IA. Presently, she shares her expertise as a faculty member at Harper College and the College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn), teaching fashion courses such as Computer-Aided Patternmaking, Digital Design, Flat Pattern, and the Fashion Industry Seminar. Beyond the classroom, Anu thrives as a freelance technical and surface pattern designer. Anu is dedicated to remaining at the forefront of fashion technology, shaping the next generation of fashion industry visionaries.
FAS 112; FAS 105; FAS 110
khainesf@harpercollege.edu
Kathleen has taught Fashion Design classes for 26 years: Fashion Illustration, Fashion Basics, Costume History, Promotion of Fashion, and Fashion Industries Career Practicum and Seminar. She has worked at Neiman Marcus in Chicago since 2000 and is the Business Manager for Cle' de Peau Beaute' cosmetics. In addition, Kathleen is currently the Treasurer for the Executive Committee of the Costume Council for the Chicago History Museum and resides on the Board of Managers for The Service Club of Chicago. She was Regional Director of Fashion Group International Chicago between 2014-2016. Her awards include the Distinguished Educator Award 2011, FGI Merit Award 2014, Lifetime Achievement Award 2017, and Level ll Educator Recognition 2022. Through her entrepreneurial spirit in the fashion industry, Kathleen is dedicated and devoted to the academic success of the Harper College Fashion Design and Merchandising students.
FAS 100; FAS 107; FAS 117; FAS 118
hs15812@harpercollege.edu
Dr. Sarah Hegge is a fashion historian, educator, multi-disciplinary maker, and blogger. She has a Ph.D in Design from the University of Minnesota as well as B.F.A. in Fashion Design from Columbia College Chicago. She’s presented at conferences for the Costume Society of America and been published in their journal Dress. She’s curated several exhibits including Inside Her Clothes, an exploration of the structure of garments from the 19th century through the late 20th century. As an instructor at Harper College, she teaches classes in textiles, sewing, machine knitting, weaving, and industrial sewing methods. In her surface design class, students learn a wide array of skills, ranging from eco printing with flowers to embellishing with LED lights and conductive thread.
FAS 102; FAS 109; FAS 201; FAS 204
bkania@harpercollege.edu
Beata Kania is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, educator, and entrepreneur. Internationally recognized Master Embroiderer and textile guru, she also specializes in contemporary, experimental pattern making techniques, and conceptual approach to fashion design, for which she has been honored with the Distinguished Educator of the Year Award. She has exhibited her work at the American Arts and Crafts Expo, Northwestern University, SOFA, Agora Gallery, NY, Nashville Public Library, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland, Merchant Hall, London, Ann Nathan Gallery and Alma Contemporary Art Gallery.
FAS 101; FAS 102
wmakela@harpercollege.edu
Bill Makela teaches a variety of classes ranging from pattern drafting, millinery, draping and construction. Over the course of his 20+ year career he has worked in the capacity of designer, cutter, pattern maker and professor. Besides teaching at Harper, he works with private clients making wedding dresses and as a milliner. You can see some of his headwear at the Chicago History Museum exhibit ‘Silver Screen to Main Screen’. Bill is inspired by designs of the past and uses historical styles to inform his work.
Lab Assistant
ml04156@harpercollege.edu
Lucinda has BA in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary and an MA in Communication and Culture from York University/Ryerson University in Toronto. She started her own sewing business in 2016 focusing on making quilts, curtains, cushions, and clothing alterations. She also has experience working in a tailor shop.
Prior to working at Harper, she spent many years as a stay-at-home mother and homemaker and has the experience of being a new immigrant twice, moving from Canada to the UK and then from the UK to the USA.
FAS 104
ra34050@harpercollege.edu
Andrea Reynders is a Chicago designer, and co-founder of we are Material, a collective of clothing and accessory designers. She is a Professor Emeritus of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and former Creative Director of the Chicago Fashion Incubator. She has led several study trips to NYC, LA, France, Italy and Japan.
She has been a visiting artist at the Royal College in London, a facilitator at Archeworks, a lecturer at the University of Pretoria, and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa and continues to mentor designers internationally.
Studio V Associate
Sandi Sexton is an inter-disciplinary artist, educator and entrepreneur. She holds a B.F.A from Northern Illinois University. Sandi has lived, taught and shown work in Europe for 30 years. A collection of her work can be found in the National Irish Visual Arts Library. She pushes the boundaries of materials. Her works are fiber-based narratives that she makes in response to an image, text or something seen in nature. The work creates a sensory exchange with the viewer.
Program Coordinator
FAS 100; FAS 107; FAS 116; FAS 208; FAS 220; FAS 225
nsharma1@harpercollege.edu
Nupur Sharma is a Chicago based Textile and Fashion educator. She has been engaged in the global fashion industry and academia for over 30 years. Nupur earned her graduate degree in Design from the University of Cincinnati and industry career experience includes working with Haggar Clothing Company, Sears, Design Craft, Mudlark, Victoria Secret and Kohl's. Her areas of expertise are - Textiles, Industrial Sewing, Apparel Evaluation, Costume History, Global Trade and Tariff, Trend Forecasting and Visual Merchandising. Nupur exposes her students to international topics in design to encourage her students to think beyond the American experience and to cultivate a global perspective on fashion.
FAS 113
vl16006@harpercollege.edu
Liliana has over 40 years experience making custom clothing. She owns and operates her own haute couture business, where she is known for her quality in unique designs and patterns for individual clients. Liliana's passion for design started at the age of 15 in Europe where she completed technical school in fashion, design and dressmaking. She has presented her garments in fashion shows for upscale country clubs and charities in the Chicago area and been featured in Vogue, Life Style Magazine, and other publications. Liliana started working for Harper College in 2021 to pass on her knowledge to future designers.