Peggy Ellingson
Weaving A Great Career In Textiles

Peggy Ellingson's Barbie dolls were always well dressed thanks to her creative dexterity with her mother's leftover fabric scraps.

From an early age, Peggy loved fashion and learned to sew by watching her mother. Her passion for fabric eventually translated into a Fine Arts major in college. "I gravitated towards textiles because it felt so natural to me and I loved the idea that I could weave beautiful fabric and then wear it," she explains.

Although Peggy received a strong arts education, she wasn't exposed to practical career opportunities in the applied arts. After graduation, she went through several career upheavals and eventually found herself laid off from an unsatisfying career at a major aircraft company due to major downsizing in the aerospace industry during the early 1990's. Thanks to the resource library her company created for laid-off employees, Peggy discovered the career that was truly for her: textile design. "I knew right then that it was something to get excited about!" She immediately began researching colleges that offered textile design. She was thrilled to discover that the one that had the most to offer was close to home in Los Angeles!

FIDM turned out to be a perfect fit for Peggy. She enrolled in the Textile Design Program and totally excelled! Not only did she graduate magna cum laude in 1992; she was also named "Textile Student of the Year" by the Textile Association of Los Angeles (TALA). The absolute highlight of her time at FIDM was having her work showcased in the yearly Student Textile Design Exhibition.

FIDM's career center has played a huge role in Peggy's professional success since graduation. Every time she's pursued a new job, placement has provided Peggy with great leads. She worked as a textile designer for several print mills, including Edmund Kim Production Group and Chemtex Print, USA. At these companies, she designed prints for prominent clients like the Disney Catalog. She also explored a new aspect of textile design as a stylist and studio manager for Texollini, Inc.

Currently, Peggy is a production colorist for L.A. Print Works. Her job is all about color and prints. She develops the formulas of colors used for pigment printing for textiles and makes sure that the customer's colors are matched and that the printing and engraving quality of the fabrics are perfect. She evaluates textile designs and reworks the designs until they are right. Everyday she is responsible for the final look of thousands of yards of fabric! Her job keeps her in contact with plenty of people: customers, color technicians, and printers. What is the most gratifying aspect of her job? "Seeing the finished product come off the back of a textile print machine is so rewarding!"

Peggy credits FIDM with giving her the strong knowledge of textile history and design which has helped her excel in the field. Another major benefit: prospective employers are always impressed with her credentials! "My FIDM degree shows them that I have a solid understanding of textile design."

As an artist, Peggy knows the value of always keeping a creative approach to projects (and class assignments!), even if they may not seem to require any creativity. She has a very balanced view of the role of the computer in textile design. "While it's important to know PhotoShop or other creative programs, don't forget that it's not a substitute for a broad understanding of traditional painting techniques, textiles, and of course, design experience!"

In her own time, Peggy applies her skills to creative projects like beaded jewelry. She is also in the process of setting up a home studio for designing knits and producing them on a weaving loom.

Peggy offers optimistic words for students pursuing textile design. "There are so many possibilities out there in the real world, just keep your options and mind open. I learned at FIDM that there is room for all sorts of talent in this industry!"

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication