More About Me

Hi, my name is Katie Zaragoza and I am a senior theatre production design and technology major with a focus in costuming. I am a passionate technician and designer, and I have spent my time at Illinois State University in my undergraduate honing my skills and deepening my understanding of costume construction. 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 have become 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.

I am very passionate about making a well constructed costume that fits the character that is wearing it. Whether I am designing or constructing costumes, 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, other 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.