Jeanne Bjorn has been designing and constructing clothing, millinery, and costumes professionally since 1980. Having a degree in Textiles and Fabric Design 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.
In 1985, she relocated to New York and began working in costume for stage and film 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 taking millinery courses at The Fashion Institute of Technology. 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.
In 1995, she went to work as Head Milliner for Eaves-Brooks Costume Co. Jeanne began teaching Millinery Courses and Workshops in 1996, 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 2000, she studied shoe making with Gaza Bowen and now teaches sandal and slide shoe making classes in her studio. She has taught 3 and 5 day intensives to avid learners from Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, as well as, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Canada and the Bahamas.
Over the past 20 years, she has taught Millinery Courses at The Colorado Institute of Art, D’Leas Fabric & Button Studio, The Oregon College of Art and Craft, The Art Student’s League of Denver, Idyllwild Arts Academy and at her studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
