Bridgeview Public Library

Beginning with The Art of Professional Garment Fitting & Body Proportions on Saturday, July 18, 2026, a different specialized workshop will be offered each month throughout the remainder of 2026 and continuing throughout 2027. These workshops provide practical, hands-on instruction in professional sewing, tailoring, pattern making, garment construction, alterations, fashion design, and other specialized apparel skills that have become increasingly difficult to find as many traditional fashion programs continue to disappear.

The inaugural workshop will teach participants how to evaluate garment fit, understand body proportions and balance, identify common fitting problems, and apply the professional techniques used by tailors, designers, pattern makers, and alteration specialists to achieve a more accurate, comfortable, and flattering fit. Future workshops will feature specialized topics including garment alterations, commercial pattern fitting, pattern making, garment construction, draping, tailoring techniques, advanced sewing methods, jean cloning, fashion design, and many other professional apparel skills.

With more than 40 years of apparel industry experience, nearly four decades of teaching, and professional work with internationally recognized fashion houses including Brioni, Giorgio Armani, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tom Ford, my goal is to help preserve and expand professional fashion education while making these specialized skills more accessible to residents throughout the southwest suburbs.

The workshops will be held at Moraine Valley Community College, Building M, Room M202, in Palos Hills. Registration is available exclusively through the EWS Fashion Academy website at www.ewsacademy.org and is not processed through Moraine Valley Community College. Individuals with questions regarding the workshops, registration, or future workshop topics are encouraged to contact me directly at 708-424-4397.

For individuals whose schedules make it difficult to attend Mr. Stiles' in-person classes, affordable online classes in sewing, tailoring, and pattern making will also be available through the EWS Fashion Academy. These online programs provide an additional opportunity to develop professional skills and continue learning from home.

Additional information, future workshop schedules, and registration are available at
https://www.ewsacademy.org/