My name Julia Serena Rodriguez, and I am a young costume designer and technician working with both films and theaters. I currently work as an Associate Costume Shop Manager and Designer for Raleigh Little Theatre.

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My costume journey began as a self-taught technician of sorts, sewing and crafting my own garments, props, and armor pieces for various conventions that I would attend. 

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I recently graduated with a bachelors degree in Costume Design and Technology in Film and Theatre. During the pursuit of said degree, I have been a first hand/stitcher for several mainstage productions, a children's theatre aimed series known as WonderQuest, and smaller stage productions. More recently, I have had the opportunity to assistant design a couple mainstage productions and serve as the primary designer (including HMU) on a couple mainstage productions (full details in resume). Additionally, I had the immense privilege of being chosen to be the costume shop supervisor for a mainstage show. Recently, I completed my first commission as a designer for a competitive gymnastics company who requested that I design their competition leo for the season.

 

In my classes and student work done for productions, I have gained a plethora of experience in patterning, millinery, tailoring, and general alterations for formal and informal garments. I can also say that I feel quite capable serving as a designer, technician, or shop super with a pleasant attitude, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, punctuality, and creative problem solving. I think the most important skill I have gained is being vulnerable about not knowing the answer but being ready to seek out the solution. 

 

After I graduate in the spring of 2022, I intend to spend some time getting my hands as dirty as possible in my career field before continuing on to grad-school to continue making connections, honing my craft, and gaining a larger variety of technician and design skills. 

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On a less formal note, I like to think of myself as a very passionate and determined person who is willing to try my hand at most anything, no matter how frustrating the challenge. I share an equal love of science and art which is one of the reasons that I found a home as a costume designer/tech. There's chemistry in dye work, physics and engineering in technical costuming, and art in designing. I love-love music (the Beatles, the Gorillaz, Arctic Monkeys, etc...), reading, and most anything that people consider to be geeky/nerdy (Star wars, Lord of the Rings, Dr. Who, video games, anime, and etc...). My favorite designers are Vivienne Westwood and Paul Poiret, and I hope to leave an iconic mark on the world somehow as well. I have plenty of long term goals, but I don't mind starting at the bottom to get where I am going. It makes for an exciting road ahead.