BIOGRAPHY


Jeanne Bjorn has been designing and constructing clothing, millinery, and costumes
professionally since 1980. Having a degree in Textiles and Fabric Design, and having
studied Flat Pattern Design and Draping as well as professional experience at various
manufacturers such as Ellen Tracy and
Perry Ellis, she began designing her own line
of Women's Designer Sportswear in 1980. She became a member of The San Francisco Design
Network, where she collaborated with other clothing and accessory designers to
participate in shows such as The Art and Architecture Show,
and California Collections -
Press Preview. Her designs have been featured in Sportswear International, Women's
Wear Daily, California Apparel News, The San Francisco Examiner, The San Jose Mercury
News, The Rocky Mountain News, and The Oregonian.
She relocated to New York in 1985 where she designed custom and private label clothing and
became increasingly interested in costume for stage and film. She worked at Barbara Matera
Ltd. Costume Shop and Carelli Costumes where she assisted designers in shopping for fabric,
trims, and everything needed to build a costume. She worked on Broadway productions of
The Secret Garden and Phantom of
the Opera, as well as films, including Hook, and the
Oscar Awarded The Age of Innocence.
In 1990, Jeanne began studying Millinery Design at The
Fashion Institute of Technology. The courses included pattern drafting, construction and
working with millinery machines; constructing wire frames, braided hats, bridal, feathers
and other embellishments; turbans; blocking with felt and straw; working with leather;
and building hat blocks as well as blocking techniques without the need for hat blocks.
While studying, she constructed head pieces for The Rockettes' 1992 Christmas Show at
Radio City Music Hall and for the Finale of Broadway's Tony Awarded
"Crazy For You."
She also developed her own line of Millinery for wholesale accounts including:
Barneys New York and VariZioni
in New York; Objects of Desire in Lexington, KY;
and Garbarini and Barbara & Co. in Denver, CO.
In the workroom on "Crazy For You"
Jeanne began teaching Millinery Design in 1994, as well as continuing her interest in Costume Design,
working for various dance companies, including Jan Justis Dance Co., Tina Gerstler Dance Works,
and Kim Robards Dance Co. In 1995, she returned to New York for a time to work as Head Milliner
for Eaves-Brooks Costume Co. Over the past ten years, she has taught Millinery Design at The
Colorado Institute of Art, D'Leas Fabric & Button Studio, The Oregon College of Art and Craft,
and at her studio in Portland, Oregon. In 2000, she studied shoemaking with Gaza Bowen and now teaches shoemaking in her studio in Portland, Oregon.