Division: Middle and Upper School
Teaches: Costume & Fashion Design; also GFS Theatre's Costume Designer
Beth Quinn has a background in both fashion and costume design. After years in the fashion industry, working with community theatre groups, and teaching in college and university programs, she was hired by GFS in 2025. In addition to helming costume design and production for the entire Theatre Department, her arrival has led to the creation of electives for Upper and Middle School. While GFS has offered sewing-related January Term courses and Mini Courses, these dedicated fashion and costume design classes are a first for the school!
Inside our studio, we have... a group of single-needle machines; that’s the basic sewing machine where everyone starts. Both middle and upper schoolers use those. Some students come in with experience, so we can get into more technical work, like reinforced flat-felled seams. We also have sergers, which use four threads instead of one. They loop around the fabric edge to prevent fraying—it’s great for quick finishing in costumes or for working with knits.
In my Upper School Costume Fashion & Design class... the first half of the year focuses on technical skills and supporting the fall show. Last year, the class made all the costumes for the Jitterbugs in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The second half of the year is for personalized projects. We look at the design process for both fashion and theatre. Some students create runway looks, and others might develop a costume for a character they created. We spend a few months researching color and texture, and the rest of the year is for pulling the projects together for Poleyfest, where they'll be on display for the community to see!
In the eighth-grade electives... I introduce the students to technical sewing. This year, we'll use Poechella, a grade-wide performing arts showcase, as a chance for them to explore dress-form draping. Their first project will be done entirely in white paper where students will create texture by crumpling, pleating, or cutting. The focus is on line, texture, and volume—all important elements of design. Another one-quarter elective, Sewing8, is a machine sewing-focused intro course to get Middle School students interested in pursuing the elective in Upper School.
Students often come in saying... "I know my style, and I want to make a pretty dress." I ask them to slow down and first consider line, color, texture, and value. Suddenly, the light bulbs go on, and they see making clothing as an art form. They realize that that clothing design for fashion and the stage isn't just about draping; it’s creative problem-solving.