WELCOME- TO WHERE FASHION DESIGN CREATIVITY and LEARNING FLOW

WELCOME HOME!

Are you a beginner fashion school applicant, fashion school grad or professional wanting to build a fashion design portfolio?

Who knows who knows they still never got to realize their potential in acquiring and using the skills they had gone to school?

for because it all went by too fast and furiously and your teachers had no time to answer your questions and you finished without feeling that solid foundation of creative and technical confidence that you wanted?

I enthusiastically invite you to join a course or browse my blog– and to master the timeless and fascinating skills of fashion from patternmaking and draping,

to design sketching,

to model drawing, and fashion illustration,

digital freehand sketching,

gouache fashion illustration,

understanding fashion fabrics better,

and designing original fashion collections

in a bursting creative design sketchbook and portfolio.

I’m Laura Volpintesta, author of the Language of Fashion Design: 26 Principles Every Fashion Designer Should Know

and 27 years fashion design professor at Parsons School of Design in NYC. I’ve distilled decades of experience designing and teaching, working with aspiring designers of all levels and styles to propel them into the world of fashion–

to build THIS whole suite, site and world of enthusiastic immersive, fashion courses for you.

And you can dive into any one to start on your way! (below)

When I first created Fashion Illustration Tribe, I was frustrated with academic programs that were primarily female students, but didn’t support teachers and students who were mothers or caregivers. I knew that most of us would be balancing family with our other creative gifts in our lives, and that we needed room to do that with time- and -location independence.

I knew that fashion that was truly sustainable and humane would come from an environment that embraced our very human, humane, physical lives from the root.

Little did I know back then (2013) that fast-forward 10 years and fashion education as I had known it would be eradicated.

Gone were the color theory classes.

Gone were the model drawing and fashion illustration classes!

Gone were the sinks in the classrooms, the gouache and pencils.

Gone were the hands-on experiences of deep quality and emotion that come from touching, feeling, even smelling the weight and tools of fashion and fabrics.

What happened? Why?

Photoshop, Illustrator, 3d modeling and Clo3d courses overtook the student experience.

Glass, buttons, clicking, screens, and power-point presentations replaced pins, scissors, fabrics, sketchbooks, draping processes, patternmaking on paper, the art of sewing, crafting of collars, hems, plackets, and fit by hand.

FASHION SCHOOLS WERE INUNDATED WITH DIGITAL TECH.

Who does this benefit?

How fast do we need to move? I couldn’t help but ask:

Will de-humanizing/ technologizing the processes with which we once made quality, beautiful designs, handwork and sketches actually improve the quality of life of the millions of people within the fashion world? How are we benefitting from this? (Or is it the software companies who are benefiting…. )
Isn’t touching, exploring, researching, experimenting, LEARNING and making through PHYSICAL PROCESSES of joy, discovery and curiosity the very thing that brought us to fashion school in the first place?

Fashion Illustration Tribe is for THOSE PEOPLE.

US.

For YOU who wants to touch, craft, feel, manipulate, explore, EMBODY, INCORPORATE the skills with your own hands, heart, emotion, imagination, and inquisitive nature.

Let’s agree:

Fashion Creativity is so incredible.

Here you can develop creative freedom rooted in traditional techniques that never go out of style-

without the confines or restrictions of a university system.

Without that anonymity. Without taking so many classes all at once that you can’t seem to retain anything you’re studying.

With me, you keep your courses forever,

work with a dedicated teacher, pace yourself, watch and rewatch, focused on growth, not grades.

My course programs are designed to prepare and encourage you to invent, express, explore, inspire and innovate.

In a place where fashion education is built on personal motivation, processes, memories, freedom, and depth.

The offerings are curated for those who trust themselves to go wider and higher in creating fashion from their creative vision. skills, knowledge, and deep love for fashion arts.

with GRACE

without GRADES

I warmly welcome you into this space — a place to learn, gain experience and understanding, as you unfurl your creative wings.into a specialized style and area of interest.

A place to Immerse yourself in the processes and take ownership of your understanding of fashion design — what it means to you, and how you want to express it.

Now is YOUR time.

And remember that

FASHION ALWAYS EVOLVES AND GROWS WITH YOU AT EACH SEASON AND CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE

That’s why you won’t hear me talking about “trends”….

YOU are the nerve that feels what is wanted, what is happening, and here you bring it out onto the page.

YOU are the trend. You are the voice behind your designs.

THE FASHION DESIGN ONLINE COURSES:

I can’t wait to see you inside and support your progress and processes.

I am passionate about offering tactile, creative, classic Fashion Design ONLINE EXPERIENCES thru Courses that function to bring out your distinct voice, message, and raw expression--
through sketching, and/ or through fabrics, drapes, patterns...
from WHEREVER you are located, WHENEVER you are able to make time. YOUR WAY,
in YOUR FLOW of CREATING

It’s YOUR time.

TIME FOR MAKING… with your hands, unique perspective, experiences, memories and inspiration.

Embark on a journey into the AMAZING world of fashion arts…

and discover yourself in the process.

I’ve even taught fashion design to complete beginners — and they’re often my favorites… so open to trying new things. They experience so much discovery and empowerment as they unlock each new awareness and technique.

As you learn each skill, you discover and refine your voice through processes and play.

Your journey of self-discovery, experimentation and innovation are what set you apart.

Drawing and draping are journeys of discovery.

Each line, each fold, each touch of fabric is a conversation between your hands and your imagination — where ideas take form and come alive.

Whatever direction fashion moves in, the heart of design remains the same: drawing, draping, handwork, and craft — timeless ways of thinking and feeling through making.

Whether you’re a seasoned designer or graduated fashion student who feels that you never got what you really came to school to experience,

or if you’re a lover of fashion who can’t stand to put your dreams aside any longer,

you belong here — exploring, creating, and rediscovering your own creative rhythm.

This creative energy spills out into the way you move and relate in the world

I created this learning space long before the wave of software and automation swept through the landscape of fashion education.

Now, more than ever,

I’m proud to offer a place where you can work with your hands, heart, and imagination — not just a screen.

WHERE WE TOUCH, FEEL, MOVE, OBSERVE, SMELL, BREATHE and SING fashion.

We sketch, snip, swatch, sew, sample our way into depth and QUALITY in fashion and design with CONFIDENCE.

I found my courses are far more valuable and rare now more than they were when I first created them!

I OFFER YOU ALL OF THE GEMS THAT MY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAVE PASSED ON TO ME.

Here, we return to the magic of making — to the rhythm of drawing, draping, and discovery.

Here…

Learning becomes a space of curiosity, encouragement, and connection, where creativity feels alive and personal.

This is how we build true skill and confidence — through the joy of craftsmanship, combined with the freedom to express your own voice without bounds.

As you step into this space of skill, discovery, expression and imagination…

You get to learn fashion design the way it was meant to— through making, feeling, and creating, rather than clicking..

Fashion is an art, a tactile experience that we can touch, feel, use, even smell and taste! It’s a SENSORY experience, not only for seeing through a screen.

I welcome you into the space of craftsmaship, care, and tradition that evolves with you.

THE CORE FOUNDATION COURSE INCLUDES:

DRAWING SKILLS
DESIGN PROCESSES
ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES
TECHNICAL DRAWING, DESIGN AND FLATS
PRESENT A CONCEPT COLLECTION OF FULL-COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS IN GOUACHE
FABRICS, TEXTURES AND COLOR SELECTION
RESEARCH/ MOOD AND INSPIRATION BOARDS
PORTFOLIO ESSENTIALS

THE COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF FASHION DESIGN COURSES and (optional) CERTIFICATION:

Creative Fashion Education, Grounded in Hand Techniques and Quality tools.

I believe in fashion education built solidly on skills — not only concepts.

As the fashion education landscape shifts, I feel more strongly than ever about the value of the courses I’ve developed over the past 15 years.

Because I know that students are walking away with embodied skills and experiences that they will cultivate for a lifetime, not a whole lot of clicking into programs that they need to subscribe to for decades that will constantly be replaced and updated.

DRAPING

SKETCHING

MARKING

ILLUSTRATING in FULL COLOR with GOUACHE

PINNING

…touching and building with your hands in the 2D and 3D.

These timeless classic approaches to learning the “language” of fashion — are now more rare and precious now than when I first launched them.

When a student comes to me, my goal is to offer learning experiences for them to feel so grounded and confident in their skills that they can freely express their deepest creative spark.

I want you to come through my courses with a bursting sketchbook, a variety of portfolio pieces

I’ve found strong foundation doesn’t limit your creativity — it unlocks it and backs it up with the sheer confidence that comes from knowledge and experience from project-based learning..
So that from there?

YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE.

TESTIMONIALS

"Hello Laura! Maria here☺️. I just wanted to thank you again for everything this three weeks. You have no idea how much I learned from you and the class. You really transmitted to all of us the deep passion you have for what you do. It is really inspiring to have a teacher that shows you what you can accomplish and the happiness that doing what you love gives you. I hope we can meet in the near future and stay in contact. Wish you the very best and again, thank you for everything, Maria❤️"

MARIA

Chile

“The Fabric & Flow Course is great for developing your skills and unleashing your creative spirit. Laura shares her skills, tips and words of wisdom from her lifetime experience as a fashion designer and educator in a fun and accessible way. I was able to find more confidence and freedom going through the exercises and found new ways of working that have helped me develop my skills - all while having fun! I know of no other course like it and highly recommend it. - Fifi

Fifi

Australia

Processes:

"Laura demystifies the fashion design process with a unique set of online courses designed to develop your design skills in an accessible and supportive environment. She is committed to her student’s development and teaches with a warmth, kindness and contagious enthusiasm for creative exploration and personal growth. A born teacher with a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the fashion industry, Laura will inspire and empower you whilst being your biggest cheerleader as you develop and reach your goals."

Laura Hickman

Fashion Illustrator,Author and Designer

Nourishment and Encouragement:

"To find a teacher in the arts who offers up everything they know and more, and whose sole purpose is to see you 'fly'- ... is extremely rare. Laura is one of those teachers. She set us up for success in so many ways. Generosity, creativity, and encouragement-- plus a solid foundation in basic art-- were all part of her teaching. I created some of my best work in her Fashion Drawing 1 class and still rely on many of the techniques. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been her student."

Jacqueline Heloise

Fashion Illustrator, Musician and Fashion Designer

Confidence:

"Teaching isn't just skill....Laura, your personality makes me feel like I can do anything. I've never done this before, and I've amazed myself!"

Tatiana Light

Fashion Designer

Structures and Formats for Success:

“I have nothing but good things to say about your portfolio class. You helped me in many ways but one of the most valuable holes you filled for me was on how to organize my thoughts when sketching. Its difficult to harness the muse in any kind of orderly way but your method has served me well. Both in that I came out of Parson’s with a strong portfolio that is single handedly responsible for landing me interviews ...but has also cinched the position at two different design firms now... Your drawing and the Portfolio are some of the most valuable things I got from Parsons as a whole. So thanks a bunch. You revved up my engine and Im still travelling on that momentum”-

Lauren Jones

Fashion Designer,Illustrator, Print Designer

Warmth, magic and JOY:

"I was fortunate to have such a wonderful professor for my Fashion Industry Design class(at Parsons). Laura is a talented designer/ illustrator, amazing tutor, and deep personality. Her open-mindedness, support, warm and kind attitude creates absolutely magical atmosphere in class. Laura is so alive, sincere, joyful and creative, it touches everyone. There is no chance a student can stay away from such great energy!"

Ev Bessar

Fashion Designer,Artist, Philanthropist, Illustrator, Print Designer

Experience for a Lifetime:

"I genuinely cannot say enough about how important your classes were to me and how much I loved them :0). In my time at Parsons I must say Laura’s class was my favorite! … where I truly learned the most about fashion drawing. I gained an understanding and awareness of proportion and how the human form reacts to movement…. tI was a student at Parsons over five years ago, but he skills I learned in Laura’s class have stayed with me. More importantly, though, is how much FUN her classes were, and how inspiring Laura is as a teacher! She encouraged us not to be afraid of color, shape and movement in our work! And this is what made everyone strive to create something unique and beautiful! Laura is a gem! A beautiful person inside and out, and one of the best teachers I have ever had, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from her!"

Beth Gillespie

Fashion Illustrator and Designer

Professional Educator:

“Probably about 25 years ago, I hired Laura to teach at Parsons. She was excellent then, and has continued to innovate and expand as a teacher and as an artist. She’s without questions one of the best I’ve known”

Pamela Klein

Fine artist, designer, former chair at Parsons School of Design

Passion plus Expertise all in one place:

"Laura is a talented, wise and passionate artist and teacher. Her courses are filled with amazing content delivered to build a solid technical foundation in illustration and fashion design or to expand on her students' existing skills. Her courses are appropriate for designers who want to develop their illustration skills, students who are building a portfolio for fashion design school, and anyone interested in fashion illustration or the design industry. Laura is an expert instructor with a wealth of knowledge and experience. Laura is offering something that no one else is: professional design school courses with personalized, private coaching available online wherever you are in the world.."

Melissa Darou

strategic marketing and retreat facilitator

Heart and Soul, Practical and Joyful:

"Laura puts her heart and soul into HOW she approaches teaching (fashion) illustration/drawing. Her gentleness, innovation and enthusiasm puts my self-doubt at ease and propels me to practice without judgement. I've studied with other college level instructors and what sets Laura apart is her unique way of breaking down visually complex forms into simple practical steps. She sets her students up to build confidence and achieve consistent progress. She sets her students up to Win, with great empathy joy and care!"

Teresa Capaldo

Multi-Media Artist & Small Business Consultant