TEACHING

Tricia with Fashion student Shai Sivakumar discussing her creative work in FFD 410 Draping I.

Since 2022, I have been a Lecturer in Fashion Design and Systems Thinking at Toronto Metropolitan University, mentoring emerging creatives. I actively foster collaborations within the university, engaging with initiatives such as the Assembly Gallery, Fashion Research Collection, and the Sustainable Fashion Initiative.

My teaching approach centers on empathy, shared learning, and process-based exploration, encouraging students to embrace experimentation and new perspectives. I emphasize ethical design practices—such as upcycling, repurposing, and zero-waste—as tools for creativity and for critically engaging with the social, environmental, and cultural contexts of fashion.

Explore my article on textile-focused, sustainable initiatives at TMU on the Liminul website.

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PROJECTS

ABOUT

Ⅰ.

FSN 205 - Fashion Systems II at TMU

This course explores emerging issues in the development, manufacturing, marketing, and consumption of products in the fashion industry. It introduces students to future leverage points and disruptors in the fashion system to foster inclusion, sustainability and decolonization as well as the roles of individual actors in emerging fashion systems. Through creative and interactive exercises, students identify, analyze, and develop strategies for a range of fashion system issues spanning luxury to mass-markets and for-profit to social business models.

Special Topic: Developed a drawing and creative writing exercise that encouraged reflection on biodiversity, non-living systems, and the role of non-things in fashion.

Ⅱ.

FFD 113 - Fashion Design I at TMU

This course is an introduction to fashion design, technical drawing, pattern making, construction and documentation of the creative process. Students will explore the creative process for fashion design, draw technical design sketches, draft patterns from basic blocks, create prototypes and document their process and development. Sustainable practices and diversity will be emphasized.

Special Topic: Invited Montreal-based fashion designer-artist Jade Simard-Lemaire to present her artistic and fashion process to the FFD 113 class.

Ⅲ.

FFD 213 - Fashion Design II at TMU

This intermediate course continues the study of apparel design, pattern making and construction. Basic blocks are used to design a coordinated look. Emphasis will be placed on shape, fabric, print, texture and colour. Sustainable practices and diversity will be emphasized.

Special Topics:
1. Developed an object-based research workshop using archival garments from the Fashion Research Collection to engage with fashion history, technical design vocabulary, pattern drafting, and creative concept development.

2. Developed a sustainable fashion workshop using post-production scraps from Veri, where students designed innovative pants from discarded materials.

Ⅳ.

FFD 410 - Draping I at TMU

This introductory course examines the basic principles of draping. Garment fit is examined through fundamental exercises and the development of basic bodices, skirts and sleeves. Draping principles are explored through a creative project. Responsible sourcing and reimagining of woven fabric is emphasized.

Ⅴ.

FFD 610 - Draping II at TMU

This intermediate course continues the study of draping. Students design, drape, and construct evening wear in a woven or knit fabric. Construction techniques specific to eveningwear are highlighted. Students select fabrics and trimmings, illustrate their designs, create technical drawings and execute final garments.

Ⅵ.

FSN101 - Discovering Textiles at TMU

This course is an introduction to textiles. Exploration is placed on the general concepts of fabric aesthetics, durability, comfort and care as related to fashion and design practices, serviceability of fibres, yarns, weaves and knits as well as dyed and printed fabrics.

Ⅶ.

Teaching Assistant

FFD 40AB Fashion Design Senior Project at TMU

FFD 314 Intermediate Illustration for Design I at TMU

MOD 5445 Prospective, recherche-création et informatisation de la collection complète de vêtements at École Supérieure de Mode de Montréal (ESM)

MOD 4460 Création de mode, illustration et image numérique at ESM

MOD 1430 Introduction au design de mode at ESM

MOD 2450 Analyse et application d'un modèle théorique en design de mode at ESM

Website built and designed by Ilka Gilvesy and Elizabeth Mclellan.