Mackenzie Gabbard
Stitching Costumes For the San Francisco Opera!

"I love costumes," says 25 year-old FIDM alumna Mackenzie Gabbard. "If I could live in another time period I would." Fortunately for Mackenzie, she can at least work in other eras, since getting a dream job with the San Francisco Opera. Working as a stitcher in the Costume Shop, Mackenzie sews and constructs garments for large-scale operas, such as Merry Widow and Arshak.

Mackenzie grew up in a small town outside of Aspen, Colorado, but always knew she wanted to pursue theatre costume design. After graduating high school, she attended FIDM's San Francisco campus, and attained a degree in Fashion Design. She then applied to the prestigious Theatre Costume program at FIDM Los Angeles. "It was an amazing nine months," Mackenzie says. "It was very intense and I got to be really close with my classmates."

During her second semester, Mackenzie and her cohorts started planning their contribution to the annual Debut fashion show, which takes place in March. After coming up with "2001: A Space Odyssey" as a theme, the students sketched, gathered materials, and put them together. Working with a fit model, Mackenzie's garments were finally ready for their own debut. "It was my first fashion show," she explains. "I had total butterflies!"

After graduating in March of 2001, Mackenzie headed back to San Francisco, "two days later." She was a woman on a mission -- determined to work for the San Francisco Opera -- and it paid off. "I sent my resume in and 24 hours later I got the job," Mackenzie explains. "I had asked them once before and they didn't need any help, but the timing was just right because they wanted someone and my resume had just arrived." Even though Mackenzie is just starting out in her theatre costuming career, she couldn't be happier. "I just love it!" she exclaims.

The Costume Shop consists of six tables, each of which have a draper, a cutter, and four to six stitchers. Mackenzie has worked on everything from a 17th century frock coat to men's knickers, and most of the materials she deals with are silks and cotton, which hold up better on stage. "I love to sew," she says. "I think my first project ever was a pillow I made when I was seven years-old." As for working in the opera, Mackenzie explains, "The construction of historical garments is far more complicated. They are made to really shape the body."

In addition to her work with the opera, Mackenzie has done jobs for the American Conservatory Theatre and a local couture bridal salon. "I'm not as interested in designing as I am in constructing and putting garments together," she says. "I love to be involved in the process."

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