Meet Elizabeth Vana Bryant | Fitting & Sewing Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elizabeth Vana Bryant and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elizabeth, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Most people aren’t aware of their clothing. They don’t realize the amount of work and skill that are required to create even basic pieces of clothing, even though the sewing of clothing is a foundational skill that humans have done for millenia, and we’ve almost lost the skill. Yet, it is our clothing that sends signals to ourselves and to everyone around us. Clothing reflects our personalities – and our moods! The image you see in the mirror will stick with you throughout the day and affect how you feel about yourself as well as how you communicate with others. It is incredibly empowering to create and wear a garment that looks – and feels – great!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Fit Sew Beautiful is unique in that I don’t utilize a fixed curriculum. Students don’t have to sew an apron or a pillowcase before they can sew a shirt. Every student’s project is completely different. Each of my students works on projects that reflect their passions. It’s my job to break their projects down into achievable steps. Just a few examples of students’ projects: a vinyl pinafore for a drag queen, an anime-inspired skirt and top, a Regency-era day ensemble, a corseted prom dress inspired by a Vivianne Westwood dress, a pair of jeans (actually, I have 4 students currently working on pairs of jeans), and a sleeveless cotton print blouse.

Sewing has always been a passion and a creative outlet for me. It has taken a lot of work – trials and errors – to obtain my level of experience. For over 40 years, I’ve sewed all my own clothing, from casual clothing and maternity/nursing wear to business suits and own wedding dress. I’ve also sewn costumes for 2 ballet companies and countless garments for others. I tell my students, “I made my mistakes so you don’t have to make them.” Sewing isn’t one of those skills that is not easy to learn from a YouTube video because every fabric is different: a skirt made from silk charmeuse will require very different construction techniques than the skirt made from cotton denim. Inexperienced sewists don’t know what fabric or technique will be best for them to use to create their dream garment. That’s why they come to me.

For me, sewing my own clothing is a necessity, as ready-to-wear clothing neither fits nor flatters my figure. I’m not alone. Most people feel frustrated because they can’t find clothes that fit. Or clothes that express their unique style and personality. At Fit Sew Beautiful, my mission is to teach my students how to fit and sew clothes that make them feel confident and beautiful, no matter their size or shape. I am most proud of my work when students tell me that the garment they made is comfortable and makes them feel happy whenever they wear it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My ASGLA Couture group has made a list of great places to go fabric shopping in Los Angeles as well as online; I maintain the list on my blog, so you can always find fabrics and notions for your projects, even though there are far fewer stores in the LA area than there used to be.

ASU’s FIDM campus has a free museum with wonderful costume exhibits. The gallery is intimate, so visitors can really SEE the details in the clothing. While in the area, visit the Los Angeles garment district. The stores are constantly changing, and many won’t sell retail, but it is always an exciting place to see. I particularly like B. Black and Son for their beautiful wools and esoteric tailoring supplies. Naturally, you can’t miss Mood Fabrics west coast store for the biggest selection in a single location (plus, they have parking!) It’s not close, but great food can be had at downtown LA’s Grand Central Market.

Further towards the ocean, there’s the Academy of Motion Pictures and LACMA, both of which have wonderful costume collections and exhibits; they aren’t always on view, so check their websites for details. I love to eat at the LA Farmers Market. Shopping includes International Silks & Woolens, Richard the Thread for corsetry supplies, and Fabric Planet for designer cuts.

Another fantastic place for costume exhibits is the Skirball Cultural Center. Currently, they have an exhibition featuring the work of Diane von Furstenberg. In the past, they’ve featured clothing from Rudi Gernreich to Star Trek. Check their website for the current exhibitions. Zeidler’s Cafe at Skirball has good food, too!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There so many people who have helped me to where I am today! My mother started me on my sewing journey, but she died when I was a teen. She was succeeded by a number of teachers and mentors. Most notable: Nancy Schelkopf, my junior high home economics teacher; my friend and mentor Susan Khalje, internationally renowned couture sewing expert; and Pati Palmer the founder of Palmer/Pletsch, who gave me the confidence to open Fit Sew Beautiful. Also, the American Sewing Guild, particularly the Los Angeles Chapter’s Couture Sewing Group, was instrumental in my journey. I wouldn’t be successful without all of them!

Website: https://fitsewbeautiful.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitsewbeautiful/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-bryant-14550633/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitSewBeautiful

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fit-sew-beautiful-newbury-park

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitsewbeautiful