Sewing is an extremely valuable life skill that everyone wants to have but most people have no clue where to begin. Here at the Haute Couture Academy of Fashion, Fine Arts & Design, we teach sewing from the most basic of beginner levels all the way up to the art of a professional design level, and our students range in age from seven to seventy-seven. There are many different reasons why someone would want to learn how to sew. Some just wish to learn how to make and alter clothing for themselves and their families, while others want to become professional seamstresses and tailors and open their own tailoring/design businesses; and lastly, there are those who wish to pursue fashion design or fashion related careers in a university/college setting, and they require top notch entrance portfolios as well as a strong and prior knowledge of design and sewing in order to gain acceptance and succeed in the fashion industry.
No matter your reasons for wanting to learn how to sew, and no matter what level you wish to pursue it to, you can be assured that the Haute Couture Academy of Fashion, Fine Arts & Design is your very best choice for learning. We offer a larger variety of sewing programmes year round than any other sewing school in Toronto and the GTA and our instructors are all top notch!
Drapery & Home Décor
In this course, students will be introduced to the basic fundamental techniques used in the successful design and construction of creating designer quality draperies, cushions & home décor products. Each term the class will focus on one or two various popular drapery and home decor style designs (roman shades, swags, duvet covers, designer pillows, etc.). Students will find this class to be both educational and instructional where they will learn industry and designer standards and technique on how to sew full length, lined draperies, drapery valences, bedroom décor, designer pillows, and much, much more.
This course is available to students ages 14 to adult.
Pre-requisite classes required:
None, but must know how to use a sewing machine.
Drapery & Home Décor has a duration of 12 – 14 classes and is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own fabrics, notions and tools.
Open Sewing: Sew your heart’s desire!
The OPEN Sewing course is one of our most popular courses ever! Only in the OPEN Sewing course can students choose their own individual projects and sew whatever their heart’s desire! Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
There are many reasons to take an OPEN sewing course:
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
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No pre-requisite classes are necessary. The OPEN Sewing course has a duration of 12-14 classes and is offered from September through to June, once per week. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Kids Beginner Sewing & Crafts: Ages 7 to 12
Our Kids Beginner Sewing & Crafts programme is a fun and informative programme and is the only course offered here at the school where kids can start learning the basics about sewing, as young as age 7 (or grade 2). Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment and crafts.
From day one, they will be taught:
Students will start the year off with small hand sewing crafts and work up to machined garments. They will be constructing small and simple garments such as pajama bottoms, easy skirts, tops and dresses, and fun hand bags and accessories.
The Kids Beginner Sewing & Crafts programme is offered to children only, ages 7 (or grade 2) to 12, and is an ideal preparatory course for those kids wanting to get into our regular Beginner’s Sewing programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to display their crafts and model their completed garment(s) in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students ages 7 (grade 2) to 12 only.
No pre-requisite classes are necessary.
Kids Beginner Sewing & Crafts has a duration of 12-14 classes, and is offered from September through to June, one class per week. Each class is 2 hours in length.
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Skirt Basics: Beginner – Level 1
The Skirt Basics programme is a fun and informative programme where students will learn the fundamental basic concepts of sewing unlined skirts. Each term will introduce a new and different design style for optimum student learning (ie, straight, pleated, gored, flared, western, etc.). Students will learn the most basic and important rules to garment sewing and the reasoning behind them. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
From day one, students will be taught:
During the course of this programme the students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations and samples, and projects. In addition to completing one skirt per term, each student will be handing in samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the class instructor.
The Skirt Basics programme is offered in both Levels 1 and 2 and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or fashion communications programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to model their completed garment(s) in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students ages 12 (grade 7) to adult.
No pre-requisite classes are required.
Skirt Basics has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June, one class per week. Each class is 3hrs in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Skirt Basics: Beginner – Level II
The Skirt Basics programme is a fun and informative programme where students will learn the fundamental basic concepts of sewing lined skirts. Each term will introduce a new and different design style for optimum student learning (ie, straight, pleated, gored, flared, western, etc.). Students will learn the most basic and important rules to garment sewing and the reasoning behind them. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
The Level 2 programme picks up where the Level 1 programme leaves off, reviewing important technique and teaching new additional and important methods.
From day one, students will be taught:
During the course of this programme the students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations and samples, and projects. In addition to completing one skirt per term, each student will be handing in samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the class instructor.
The Skirt Basics programme is offered in both Levels 1 and 2 and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or fashion communications programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to model their completed garment(s) in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students ages 12 (grade 7) to adult.
Pre-requisite classes required:
Skirt Basics – Level 1.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Casual Tops: Beginner – Level I & Level II
Our Casual Tops course a fun, innovative and informative course where students will learn the fundamental basic concepts of sewing simple tops. Students will learn the most basic and important rules to garment sewing and the reasoning behind them. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
From day one, students will be taught:
During the course of this programme the students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations and samples, and projects. In addition to completing one skirt per term, each student will be handing in samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the class instructor.
The Skirt Basics programme is offered in both Levels 1 and 2 and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or fashion communications programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to model their completed garment(s) in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students ages 12 (grade 7) to adult.
Pre-requisite classes required:
Skirt Basics – Level 1.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Casual & Sun Dresses: Beginner – Level I
Our Casual & Sun Dresses course is an exciting and innovative programme where students will learn the fundamental and basic concepts of dress making and the advantages of working with casual wear fabrics such as cotton, linen, lightweight denims, and poly blends to make an unlined casual sundress. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
During the duration of this course of this class, students will learn:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations and samples, and projects. Students will be completing one dress throughout the course of the term, both here in class as well as for homework.
This programme is offered at a beginner level only (Levels 1 & 2), and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design/communications, or fashion related programme. As well, each student will have the unique, exciting and wonderful opportunity to model their completed garment in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students ages 12 (grade 7) to adult.
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A minimum of two (for Level 1) to five (for Level 2) completed pre-requisite Beginners courses are required. This programme has a duration of 12-14 classes per term, and is offered from September through to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Business & Cocktail Dresses: Beginner – Level II
Our Business & Cocktail Dresses course is an exciting and innovative programme where students will learn the fundamental and basic concepts of dress making and the advantages of working with woolens & entry level evening wear fabrics to make a lined business or cocktail dress. The focus of this course is to teach students the proper handling methods of working in expensive fabrics all while upgrading their sewing technique. In addition to this, we will address and remove the “fear” of working with expensive and delicate fabrics. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
During the duration of this course of this class, students will learn:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations and samples, and projects. Students will be completing one dress throughout the course of the term, both here in class as well as for homework.
This programme is offered at a beginner level only (Levels 1 & 2), and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design/communications, or fashion related programme. As well, each student will have the unique, exciting and wonderful opportunity to model their completed garment in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students ages 12 (grade 7) to adult.
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A minimum of two to five completed pre-requisite Beginners courses are required.
This programme has a duration of 12-14 classes per term, and is offered from September through to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 1
This Intermediate – Level 1 programme is a fun, innovative and informative course where students will learn the fundamental basic concepts of sewing pants using proven industry methods. Students will learn the most basic and important rules to pant sewing and the reasoning behind them. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
From day one, students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations & samples, and projects. In addition to completing one pair of pants per term, each student will be making samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the teacher in class, to add to their fashion & arts portfolio.
The Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 1 programme is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or fashion communications portfolio and programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to model their completed garment in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
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Pre-requisite classes required:
Pre-requisite classes required: Students must have completed their entire Beginner Sewing level. This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Intro to Evening Wear Couture – Intermediate: – Level 1
Our "Intro to Evening Wear Couture" course is our introduction to couture sewing methods in cocktail and evening wear” programme. It is an exciting and innovative programme where students will be introduced to some fundamental basic concepts of couture sewing methods. This includes learning how designers successfully work with evening wear fabrics such as silk satins, peau de soie, charmeuse, and silk burnout fabrics (to name a few), and how working with these “evening wear” fabrics differs so much from working with other natural and man-made fibers. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
During the course of this class, students will learn:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations and samples, and projects. Students will be completing one "Little Black Dress" throughout the course of the term, both here in class as well as for homework.
This programme is offered at intermediate – Level 1 and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or communications programme. As well, each student will have the unique, exciting and wonderful opportunity to display and model their completed garment in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
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Pre-requisite classes required:
Students must have completed their entire Beginner Sewing level. This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Sexy Swimwear & Accessories: Intermediate – Level 1
Sexy Swimwear & Accessories is an extremely fun, creative and informative course where students will learn the fundamental basic concepts of sewing with swimwear stretch fabrics (two-way stretch fabrics with Lycra). Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to downtown Toronto where they will be introduced to specialty fabric wholesalers dealing in exciting and exotic swimwear fabrics. There, they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind swimwear creations.
Students will learn the most basic and important rules to swimwear construction and the reasoning behind them. From day one, students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations, and samples and projects. Students will be completing at least one swimsuit throughout the course of the term, and possibly a wrap as well, both here in class as well as for homework.
The Sexy Swimwear & Accessories programme is offered at an Intermediate – Level 1 only and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or communications programme. As well, each student will have the unique, exciting and wonderful opportunity to display and model their completed swimsuit in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
This individual course is only one course-component to our Lingerie and Swimwear Programme. The entire programme consists of the following courses:
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Pre-requisite classes required:
Students must have completed their entire Beginner Sewing level. This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Sewing with Stretch Fabrics & Knits: Intermediate – Level 1
Sewing with Stretch Fabrics & Knits is a fun, innovative and informative course where students will learn the fundamental, basic concepts of sewing with stretch and knitted fabrics. Because most stretch knit garment design has a more basic structure, people tend to think that sewing in stretch knit must be simpler. However, nothing can be further from the truth! Working in stretch knit fabrics is extremely difficult as stretch knits are temperamental extremely volatile, and the stretch and recover factor will always vary from fabric to fabric leaving inexperienced sewers with sagging and overstretched seams, necklines and armholes. We take the frustration out of sewing with knits and put the fun back into it!
Students will learn the most basic and important rules to knitted garment sewing and the reasoning behind them. From day one students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme, students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations, and samples and projects. In addition to completing one knitwear garment per term, each student will be handing in samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the teacher in class, for marking, to add to their fashion & arts portfolio.
Our Sewing with Stretch Fabrics & Knits programme is offered at the intermediate level as a level 1 course, and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion communications programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to model their completed garment(s) in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
This individual course is only one course-component to our Lingerie and Swimwear Programme. The entire programme consists of the following courses:
This course is available to students aged 11 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required:
at least 3 Beginner level courses.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
Sewing with Stretch Fabrics & Knits has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Here at the HC Academy, we pride ourselves on offering our students the most unique, best-taught, and not to be found anywhere else in York Region, courses and programmes. We first introduced our one-of-a-kind Bra Making course in 2014 and it has become legend ever since!
As fashions change and evolve, bra making has become a huge component in North American and European styling. It’s become common place to see design components of bra making in casual wear, swimwear, leatherwear, evening, cocktail and bridal wear. As any experienced designer will tell you, having a sound knowledge of bra making construction and technique has become a basic necessity for the successful construction all other aspects of sewing, especially swimwear, lingerie and eveningwear.
Students will learn the most basic and important rules to Bra Making and the reasoning behind them. From day one students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme, students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations, and samples and projects. In addition to completing at least one bra, each student will be making in samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the teacher in class, to add to their fashion & arts portfolio.
Our Bra Making course is offered at the intermediate level as a Level 2 course, and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion communications programme.
This individual course is only one course-component to our Lingerie and Swimwear Programme. The entire programme consists of the following courses:
This course is available to students age 11 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Beginner level courses.
Bra Making has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
Sewing with Stretch Fabrics & Knits has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Our Sexy Slip Dresses & Lingerie course is one module in our Lingerie & Swimwear Programme. The ability to sew great lingerie is such an amazing knowledge and skill set to have and you will be the envy of all your friends! This course puts a special emphasis on working with specialty stretch laces, and delicate fabrics in bias for use in lingerie and slip dresses. Good-bye Victoria’s Secret (and the expense of shipping and returning). Hello custom made, one-of-a-kind silk lingerie!
From class one, students will learn the most basic and fundamental guidelines to sewing lingerie. Students can expect to learn the following:
Our Sewing Sexy Slip Dresses & Lingerie course is offered at the intermediate level as a Level 1 course, and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion communications programme.
This individual course is only one course-component to our Lingerie and Swimwear Programme. The entire programme consists of the following courses:
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students age 13 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Beginner level courses.
Sewing Sexy Slip Dresses & Lingerie has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
Sewing with Stretch Fabrics & Knits has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
If you love wearing clothes in tartans, plaids and checks, then you will LOVE this course! Successfully sewing with any kind of plaid, tartan and check is a truly daunting task for any non-experienced sewer. Getting the plaid to all line up and matching the print and the repeat of the fabric requires great skill and know-how, and knowing how much extra fabric to purchase to accommodate your print and pattern can be a nightmare!
But worry no more. In this course we take the fear and the frustration out of sewing with plaids and checks. We turn the myths into fact and we give you the experience and learning to successfully work with plaid, tartan and checks.
During the course of this programme, students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations, and samples and projects
Our Sewing with Plaids & Checks course is offered at the intermediate level as a Level 1 course, and is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion communications programme.
During the duration of this course, students will learn:
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students age 13 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Beginner level courses.
Sewing with Plaid & Checks has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
In 1846, with the invention of the first sewing machine, fashion from the Victorian era quickly became known for its’ grandeur, elegance and splendor. Although we are now in the 21st century, women of all ages are still in awe of the Victorian corset. Of course, the reasons why are simple. The Victorian era ushered in an age of elaborate styling and opulent beauty, both in fashion and architectural design. Women’s clothing was both intricately designed and elegant, showcasing tiny waists and large busts that epitomized and dramatized the magnificence of the female form.
This course teaches the student how to sew Victorian corsets with authentic Victorian technique. No “fast fashion” sewing techniques, stretch fabric or spandex here, ladies. This is a course on how to custom sew authentic, “body shaping”, Victorian corsets and stays using the exact methods that were employed and actually used in that famous era. These corsets can be adapted for any use. The applications are endless!
Along with regular sewing techniques that all students will be learning, the main focus of this course is to:
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students age 13 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required: Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Beginner level courses for Corsets Level 1, and at least 3 Intermediate classes for Corsets & Stays Level 2.
Sewing Authentic Victorian Corsets & Stays has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is usually offered in the spring term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
The Couture Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 2 programme is a fun, innovative and informative course where students will catapult their knowledge about pant making into a whole new level. Students will learn to build upon their industry background to learn the time-honored tradition of couture sewing for pants. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
From day one, students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations & samples, and projects. In addition to completing one pair of couture pants per term, each student will be making samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the teacher in class, to add to their fashion & arts portfolio.
The Couture Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 2 programme is an ideal preparatory course for a college or university fashion design or fashion communications portfolio and programme. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity to model their completed garment in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
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Pre-requisite classes required: Students must have completed their entire Beginner Sewing level as well as the Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 1 course. This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Best Fitting Blue Jeans: Intermediate – Level 2 is one of our most popular and exciting courses offered here, at our studio school. This is because it is different from all the other sewing courses insofar as the students actually get the opportunity to design (by modifying an existing blue jean pattern) and construct a pair of blue jeans of their own design!
This course will test your artistic and creative abilities, sewing abilities, patternmaking abilities, and your overall design creativity. Best Fitting Blue Jeans: Intermediate – Level 2 is a course that that puts forward a student’s best work for their unique and individual university/college art and fashion portfolios.
Because working with denim can be extremely tricky, this course will focus on various methods of construction, both industry and couture, best used with all types of denim. Students will learn designer tips and tricks of the trade. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
From day one, students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations & samples, and projects. In addition to completing at least one pair of blue jeans per term, each student will be making samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the teacher in class, to add to their fashion and arts portfolio.
As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity model their completed one-of-a-kind blue jeans in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
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Pre-requisite classes required: Students must have completed their entire Beginner Sewing level as well as the Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 1 course. This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
The Perfect Little Jean Jacket is a MUST HAVE for all seasons, and because of this our jean jacket course has become very popular with all our students. This programme goes hand-in-hand with our Best Fitting Blue Jeans programme where students learn the art of sewing in true denim and creating their own unique designs. As with our blue jeans course, this programme is different from all the other sewing courses we offer insofar as the students actually get the opportunity to design (by modifying an existing jean jacket pattern) and construct their own one-of-a-kind jean jacket of their very own design!
This course will test your artistic and creative abilities, sewing abilities, patternmaking abilities, and your overall design creativity. The Perfect Little Jean Jacket: Intermediate – Level 2 is a course that that puts forward a student’s best work for their unique and individual university/college art and fashion portfolios.
Because working with denim can be extremely tricky, this course will focus on various methods of construction, both industry and couture, best used with all types of denim. Students will learn designer tips and tricks of the trade. Before the start of the first class, students will take place in an exciting field trip to one of Vaughan’s most elite designer fabric stores where they will be introduced to the world of exotic and gorgeous specialty fabrics, and they will be able to purchase all the fabrics and notions necessary to complete their stunning one-of-a-kind garment.
From day one, students will be taught the following:
During the course of this programme students will be learning through two basic teaching techniques: demonstrations & samples, and projects. In addition to completing their jean jackets, each student will be making samples of important sewing techniques, demonstrated by the teacher in class, to add to their fashion and arts portfolio. As well, each student will have the wonderful and exciting opportunity model their completed one-of-a-kind blue jeans in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala!
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Pre-requisite classes required: Pre-requisite classes required: Students must have completed their entire Beginner Sewing level as well as the Dress Pants: Intermediate – Level 1 course. This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. It is offered from September to June. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
The ability to successfully sew a tailored cotton shirt or to make a beautiful silk blouse is one that would make any experienced tailor envious. Tailored shirts and delicate silk blouses are a staple of any well-dressed woman’s wardrobe. However, knowing how to sew these garments is not as easy as you would think. There are so many fine sewing techniques involved in the making of these garments that the majority of “home sewers” leave this particular project to the professionals.
Well, fret no longer. We will give you the skinny on how to effectively sew shirts and blouses like a seasoned pro. Just think. That amazing wardrobe really is within your grasp!
As students will already have a beginner level of sewing behind them, this course will focus on the following shirt making techniques:
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students age 14 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Beginner level courses for Shirts Level 1, and at least 3 Intermediate classes for Blouses Level 2.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
(Sometimes referred to as Sewing Authentic Oriental Brocade Dresses)
Even as children, when dreaming about learning how to sew, it always seemed we envisioned ourselves wearing beautifully made cocktail dresses and evening gowns, attending the best parties and being the belle of the ball!
The ability to sew one-of-a-kind, couture cocktail dresses is worth its’ weight in gold! After all, there’s nothing worse than showing up at a party and finding that someone else has the exact same dress on. If you knew how to sew, then that would NEVER happen. Sewing beautiful couture cocktail dresses takes a ton of patience and effort, but the time spent learning is worth every minute of it.
As students taking this course will already have Intermediate Level 1 sewing behind them, this course will focus on the intricacies of sewing couture, one-of-a-kind cocktail dresses.
During the progression of this course, some of the things students will learn are:
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
This course is available to students age 14 to adult.
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Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Intermediate Level 1 courses.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Over the last century the tailored jacket, as part of a well put-together wardrobe, has been a must have staple for both men and women. It’s true that styles and fashions have come and gone, but the true essence and structured beauty of the tailored jacket itself has never gone out of style.
To acquire a properly tailored jacket, historically, most people (especially men) would simply go to a tailor and have one made. That’s great for you, but bad for your wallet. A custom tailored jacket can easily cost over one thousand dollars. And rightly so, considering that any tailor worth his weight in gold has dedicated his lifetime to honing his craft to such a high level of perfection.
So what happens when you want to purchase more than one? Simple. It’s time to get busy and learn how to sew for yourself. There are many different kinds of tailoring methods. In this course, you will learn accepted industry methods and practices. The Industry method of tailoring is more easily learned by students and is one of many pre-curser courses to Master Tailoring. This course employs the same type of sewing methods that are used in garment mass production and students will be learning how to make both men’s and women’s jackets. If a student has pattern making knowledge, he or she may also design their own sewing patterns for this course.
This course is available to students age 15 to adult.
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Intermediate Level 1 courses.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Once autumn approaches, take a moment to look through the pages of any Paris, Rome or New York Vogue magazine and you will always find the most gorgeous and beautifully designed winter coats worn as part of an ensemble or on their own. Cashmere, alpaca, mohair, and the finest wools and tweeds make for the warmest (and most stunning) winter coats, and any well stocked wardrobe will always require more than one.
Although absolutely beautiful to look at and so warm and cozy to wear, making a winter coat can be an enormous challenge, especially when working with expensive and delicate fabrics (yes, people, cashmeres, alpacas, and fine wools are VERY delicate and so easy for an inexperienced sewer to ruin).
This course takes the frustration and guesswork out of working with advanced patterns, delicate fabrics, and intricate coat stylings. Let’s face it, working with coat fabrics is so very different than working in lightweight wovens. Because of the weight, for a successful garment, techniques change and have to be constantly adapted. The successful student in this course will have an advanced background in sewing, as students are able to choose any style of pattern they wish to sew.
During the progression of this course, the most important things students will learn are:
This course is available to students age 15 to adult.
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Intermediate Level 1 courses.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
During the summer term, it is offered as:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
What can we say about this course except that it really doesn’t need a lot of explanation? We all want that perfect little leather skirt or that amazing pair of leather pants that fit just perfectly. Who wouldn’t want to have the valuable know-how to sew incredibly advanced and gorgeous leather garments? This is a course for serious sewers only and for students who want to submit one-of-a-kind top portfolios to the university fashion programmes.
By the end of this one week course, students will have completed at least one skirt (Level 1) and one pair of pants (Level 2) to add to their personal and university portfolios.
This course is available to students age 15 to adult.
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required: at least 3 Intermediate Level 1 courses.
This course is offered during the summer term only, for one full week (each, for Level 1 and 2), daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Master Tailoring (Suit Jackets): Advanced – Level 2
Over the last century the tailored jacket, as part of a well put-together wardrobe, has been a must have staple for both men and women. It’s true that styles and fashions have come and gone, but the true essence and structured beauty of the tailored jacket itself has never gone out of style. Future designers will most likely continue to re-invent the jacket for many fashion decades to come.
To acquire a properly tailored jacket, historically, most people (especially men) would simply go to a tailor and have one made. That’s great for you, but bad for your wallet. A custom tailored jacket can easily cost over one thousand dollars. And rightly so, considering that any tailor worth his weight in gold has dedicated his lifetime to honing his craft to such a high level of perfection.
So what happens when you want to purchase more than one? Simple. It’s time to get busy and learn how to sew for yourself. There are many different kinds of tailoring methods, but in this course you will learn master tailoring methods. These are time honored methods and sewing traditions and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation and are seldom taught even at the university level. This course is not for the faint of heart as true tailoring methods require extreme time-intensive, hand sewing techniques. This is a course for those who LOVE to sew. There’s an old saying, “Art for art’s sake”. Well, if you want to learn how to tailor, we say “Sewing for sewing’s sake.” You have to truly have a love for the process of hand stitching and sewing to want to learn how master tailoring technique. If a student has pattern making knowledge, he or she may also design their own sewing patterns for this course.
This course is available to students age 18 to adult.
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required:
at least 3 Intermediate Level 2 courses, including Industry Tailoring.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Sewing with Leather (Coats): Advanced – Level 2
Over the last century the tailored jacket, as part of a well put-together wardrobe, has been a must have staple for both men and women. It’s true that styles and fashions have come and gone, but the true essence and structured beauty of the tailored jacket itself has never gone out of style. Future designers will most likely continue to re-invent the jacket for many fashion decades to come.
To acquire a properly tailored jacket, historically, most people (especially men) would simply go to a tailor and have one made. That’s great for you, but bad for your wallet. A custom tailored jacket can easily cost over one thousand dollars. And rightly so, considering that any tailor worth his weight in gold has dedicated his lifetime to honing his craft to such a high level of perfection.
So what happens when you want to purchase more than one? Simple. It’s time to get busy and learn how to sew for yourself. There are many different kinds of tailoring methods, but in this course you will learn master tailoring methods. These are time honored methods and sewing traditions and techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation and are seldom taught even at the university level. This course is not for the faint of heart as true tailoring methods require extreme time-intensive, hand sewing techniques. This is a course for those who LOVE to sew. There’s an old saying, “Art for art’s sake”. Well, if you want to learn how to tailor, we say “Sewing for sewing’s sake.” You have to truly have a love for the process of hand stitching and sewing to want to learn how master tailoring technique. If a student has pattern making knowledge, he or she may also design their own sewing patterns for this course.
This course is available to students age 18 to adult.
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required:
at least 3 Intermediate Level 2 courses, including Industry Tailoring.
This course has a duration of 12 – 14 classes per term. Each class is 3 hours in length.
It is also offered during the summer term as:
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own patterns, fabrics & notions
Sewing with Leather (Coats): Advanced – Level 2
Sewing with Leather has definitely become one of our most popular courses offered at the academy. With every fashion season we see leather becoming more and more prominent in designer clothing. Collections. Leather skirts, pants, dresses, vests and overalls are an amazing addition to anyone’s wardrobe. A leather coat, however, is the “piece de resistance”!
We aren’t trying to fool anyone. Learning how to sew is a lifetime dedication and sewing with leather is not for the faint of heart. But if you have the desire to learn, along with a strong sewing background, we can offer you the very best instructors who will teach you all the ins and outs of sewing an intricate and difficult project such as the leather coat.
This is a course for serious sewers only and for students who want to submit one-of-a-kind top portfolios to the university fashion programmes.
By the end of this one week course, students will have completed one leather coat to add to their personal and university portfolios.
This course is available to students age 16 to adult.
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required:
at least three Intermediate Level 1 courses and Sewing with Leather (Levels 1 and 2).
This course is offered during the summer term only, for one full week, daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own fabrics, skins, patterns and notions.
Working with Lace: Advanced – Level 2
Because of its’ extremely delicate nature, Working with Lace can be intricate, demanding and frustrating if one lacks the specific advanced skill sets to do so successfully. There are many different, beautiful and unique types of lace available to the modern sewer and designer, but what most do not know is that each type of lace and lace pattern will present a unique and different design challenge. As lace can cost upwards from $100 per meter, it is important to have the proper skills and techniques under your belt before attempting to work with it, along with an instructor with a vast lace-working background.
For cocktail, evening and bridal wear, there is nothing more beautiful, or more ethereal, than a delicate lace gown. In this class, students will learn skills and techniques in sewing with lace and lace applique through the development of their own lace creation.
This is a course for serious sewers only and for students who want to submit one-of-a-kind top portfolios to the university fashion programmes.
By the end of this course, students will have completed one lace garment to add to their personal and university portfolios.
This course is available to students age 16 to adult.
This course can be offered as a single term course, but is sometimes offered as a three-term programme (fall, winter and spring).
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required:
at least three Intermediate Level 1 courses.
Supply Cost:
Supply Cost: Students to supply their own fabrics, patterns and notions.
Bridal Couture: Advanced – Level 2
Our Bridal Couture course is one of the most advanced programmes that we offer at the academy. It is a “No Holds Barred” type of programme where students are given the unique opportunity to pit their design skills and unique creativity towards one-of-a-kind, custom, couture prom, evening and bridal gowns.
In this course students will be working with all manners of evening fabrics and laces. This course focuses on couture and custom technique (vastly different from industry technique), and brings attention to the importance of garment infrastructure in couture, and the myriad methods of its’ execution.
This is a course for serious sewers only and for students who want to submit one-of-a-kind top portfolios to the university fashion programmes.
By the end of this course, students will have completed one lace garment to add to their personal and university portfolios.
This course can be offered as a single term course, but is often offered as a three-term programme (fall, winter and spring).
Of course, all students will have the exciting opportunity to model all their completed garments in our professional Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
—
Pre-requisite classes required:
at least three Intermediate Level 1 courses. At least one year of patternmaking and/or draping (If students are designing from scratch).
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own fabrics, patterns and notions.
Private Collections: Advanced – Level 2
Our Private Collections programme is the final goal, and ultimate reward, for our advanced design students. It is the most prestigious programme that we offer at the academy, where students have the unique and valuable opportunity to design and construct their very own private collection for their personal and university portfolios. With this programme, students will be able to bring to life their own one-of-a-kind collections and catapult their personal portfolios to a professional level. This programme will get you “show ready” and, as such, you’ll be ready to partake in all of our year end fashion runway shows!
Once students have completed this three course programme (fall, winter and spring), they will be eligible to come to Rome, Italy with us on our Elements of Design Trip in July, where we will showcase their collection in our very own Italian fashion show!!! The winner of that show will be going back to Italy the following year to showcase their next collection and to be “launched” as a new and up-and-coming young designer on the Italian fashion scene!!!
This course is a must have in every fashion student’s repertoire as it gives each student the opportunity to work hand in hand with their design instructor, learning the do’s and don’ts of successful collections, the basic fundamentals of pulling a line together and making it work, and how to successfully work in textures and difficult prints. Students will gain valuable insights and direction from their instructors’ 30+ years of design experience!
This course is available to students age 16 to adult.
Of course, as a final reward, all student collections will be showcased, in our Year End Fashion & Art Show Gala held every July!
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Pre-requisite classes required:
at least three Intermediate Level 1 sewing courses, three Intermediate Level 2 sewing courses. At least 2 years of patternmaking, and one to three fashion illustration courses.
This course is offered from September to June, it is offered as three terms (fall, winter and spring), once per week, 3 hours per class. In the summer it is offered as a one week course, daily, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Supply Cost:
Students to supply their own fabrics, patterns and notions.
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