Fashion Design Instructor | Sewing, Patternmaking, Draping, Portfolio

Tenneh W.

Hello! My name is Professor TJ Wilkins. I’m a Fashion Design Professor, designer, and creative instructor with over 15 years of experience in fashion design, sewing, patternmaking, draping, portfolio development, and technical design. I hold a B.S. in Fashion Design from the University of Rhode Island and an M.F.A. in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art University. I’ve taught Fashion Design at the university level and worked professionally as a designer, patternmaker, dressmaker, and technical designer, while also building my own fashion brand inspired by culture and craftsmanship.
Teaching is one of my greatest joys. I enjoy helping students of all ages express their creativity and gain confidence in their technical skills. I also run a YouTube channel (Professor TJ Wilkins) where I share approachable tutorials on sewing, patternmaking, draping, and creative arts. My goal in every lesson is to make fashion design feel clear, achievable, and deeply rewarding.
I’ve taught children, teens, and adults, as well as aspiring fashion students preparing for design programs or industry careers. My lessons can include concept development, sewing techniques, pattern drafting, draping basics, technical flats, fashion illustration (traditional or digital), Adobe Illustrator, collection planning, and portfolio coaching. For beginners, I break everything down step-by-step. For intermediate and advanced students, I offer guidance that strengthens technical ability and design thinking.
My teaching style is encouraging, and supportive. I personalize each lesson to match your goals - whether you want to learn to sew, refine your patternmaking, design a collection, build a fashion portfolio, or develop professional skills for school or industry.
I’d love to support you on your fashion design journey. Feel free to message me if you’d like to see examples of my sewn garments, illustrations, or design work. I look forward to working with you!