More About Me

Hi, my name is Katie Zaragoza and I am a first year costume technology graduate student at Florida State University with a B.S. in Theatre Production Design and Technology from Illinois State University. I am a passionate technician, and I have spent my time at Illinois State University in my undergraduate honing my skills and deepening my understanding of costume construction which lead me to pursuing my masters degree in costume technology. For me, costuming is about creating a visual, wearable story that supports the vision and narrative of every production I am a part of.

Throughout my time at Illinois State University, I became educated in the costume process as a whole from the design concept to patterning and fittings to the final details. I’m skilled in pattern drafting, fabric selection and dying, and sewing by both machine or hand. And I have expanded my skills in flat patterning and draping since being in my graduate program.

I am very passionate about making a well constructed costume that fits the character that is wearing it. I find it incredibly rewarding to watch all the pieces of a production fall into place and fit together at dress rehearsal. The way that a costume helps tell the story can often go unnoticed but is an essential part of productions. I think that each costume has the ability to tell their own story in a unique way.

Working along side directors, designers, and the performers is one of my favorite parts of being a costumer, as I am able to learn multiple perspectives to create one cohesive product in the end. And along the lines of collaboration, I enjoy working with my costume teams, whether it be my design or my construction teams, I love working together to make a full product.

I am excited to continue expanding my skills to produce high quality costumes that contribute to a production. I always enjoy seeing a character come to life in a costume that I have made and it keeps me eager to keep creating.