Hello and welcome to the first-ever issue of Seam Ripper, the official Bay Wardrobe Collective newsletter! 

Seam Ripper is for the broad sphere of the Collective and we hope that there is something in it for everyone, regardless of your involvement with us. We’re here for members, colleagues, fans, and neighbors. In these quarterly publications, we’ll share updates from around the Collective, let you know about upcoming events, spotlight our incredible members, and more! Feel free to send us an email if there’s something you’d like to see included.

Exciting updates:

The most exciting update of late is that Bay Wardrobe Collective is now eligible for fundraising and grant opportunities! We were selected for fiscal sponsorship through Intersection for the Arts, an incredible Bay Area organization with a vision of empowering artists and their communities and encouraging innovation and financial wellness. Perfect for us, right? Wahoo!!! 

In the short-term, we’re raising money to pay our educators and staff and to fund the various technical things we need to run this - think Slack, Google Suite, and other basics like that. In the longer term, we can use raised funds to expand our programming and further increase our collective impact. 

You can donate to our Every.com profile using THIS LINK, and feel free to share it with anyone. If you know of a person or a business that may be interested in becoming a donor, you can send them our way or send us their information and we can reach out. 

Upcoming Collective Events

Class Schedule:

April 25 - Hand Sewing Foundations

May 9 - Machine Sewing Foundations

In these classes, you will get an introduction to the very basics of hand and machine sewing techniques used in theatre and film. First, we’ll dive into the essentials of needle, thread, fabric, and basic hand sewn closures. In the second class, we’ll explore the basics of machine sewing. Whether you are familiar, or a novice, this class will help you become more comfortable with sewing machines and their parts. More details about both classes can be found here. 

Sign-ups will be available soon! You can attend one or both, but there will be a discount offered for those who sign-up for both classes. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Gatherings: 

Come schmooze and snack at one of our networking gatherings, held on the second Tuesday of every month from 6-8PM. Upcoming dates are: April 14, and May 12. 

Gatherings are held at the warehouse - if you don’t already have the location details, send us a message and we will share it with you!

The Collective In Action

We are active and busy! Here’s where you can find Collective members and their work out in the wild: 

Bethany Deal is the costume designer for Gods & Monsters, and she rented a few pieces from Empire Threads for the show! 

Location: New Conservatory Theater Center, San Francisco

Dates: March 6 - April 5

Bay wardrobe collective members have been nominated for the 49th SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Excellence in Theatre Awards which will be taking place on March 30th! Madeline Berger, Maggie Whitaker, and Ashley Renee have all been nominated for Outstanding Costume Design. 

Maggie Whitaker has a lot to share this month! 

Lady Champagne, a hit sequel to Shit and Champagne, had its world premiere at BFI Flare, a British film festival, on March 19th. The Optimist: The Bravest Act is Truth, a feature film co-designed with Aggie Guerard, had its national theatrical release on March 11th. Two shorts she designed, Betty St. Clair and After What Happened in the Library, are continuing to enjoy national festival releases following their recent debuts.

Member Spotlight

In each issue of Seam Ripper, we will highlight one member to interview about their work, their passions, and their experience as a part of the collective.

In this issue, we’re featuring Julia Neal:

What’s your specialty? 

Steaming baby! I’m probably right at the end of my 10,000 quality hours. And coming in at a less exciting number two is accessory and craft work. I enjoy the small-scale detail work with mediums like metal, beading, and foam. The functionality and histories behind accessories can really help actors access character in such a precise and grounded way. 

Has anything been particularly fascinating to you recently? How did you get into it? 

In 2021 I was welcomed into the most addicting and gorgeous political puppet universe in Minneapolis. Everyone's work was so collaborative and innovative and punk. With paper mache and puppet, there is a mutualistic relationship with a human in order to bring it to its full life. They beg to be used and to be built with longevity on the mind. I’m a part of a group called Circus Mondays and we just put on a bit of a bug clown cabaret. I’ve been thinking a lot about wearable duty and functional sculpture as costume.

Most recent job that got you really excited?

A couple collective members and I worked on the sea of grass featured in Bad Bunny’s Superbowl halftime show. We got to bask in the joyous culmination of all the work from this massive team from LA, Atlanta, and Puerto Rico. 

What are you hoping to do more of in the future?

I’ve been loving my wardrobe union work. There is such a rush in the randomness of who you are going to work with for massively intense, intimate, and long days. I'll take more of that and more styling. 

Favorite era of costuming? 

I fear I am one of the many basic grown up children obsessed with the first old Hollywood movie her aunt showed her. 

Who’s work are you a fan of? 

My friends. My mom’s first grade student from like 2003 that painted this brilliant chair. David Osit, Jo Spence, Ana Mendieta, Jaqueline Novak, Patrick Kelly. I studied under Clint Ramos so I have loved keeping up with his work. Other than that, I don't find myself following costume designers. There's just so many other hands involved in the final work that each project isn't indicative of the next. 

What’s your favorite part of being a Bay Wardrobe Collective member?

There is a serious focus on doing the work you wish to be doing and being in community with enough people to make that happen. It's so nice having a little world of working artists to guide you through the fragmented but popping costume scene in the Bay.

Hot Iron 

Hot Iron is a place for collective members to share what is interesting to them. Want to tell us all why your favorite movie has the best costuming? Are you getting really into a specific technique or style that you want to tell people about? Did something interesting happen on a job that you think other people would benefit from hearing about? 

We want to hear from our brilliant, thoughtful community. Submissions should be 250-400 words. 

Sew long for now, 

Ellie Rudner

Bay Wardrobe Collective Co-Director 

(she/her)

Want something included in the next issue of Seam Ripper? Shoot us an email at seamripper@baywardrobecollective.org