Tuesday 27 April 2021: Susan Khalje gives us her time on the latest Sewcialists podcast with fit guru, Gabby Brown and Maria Theoharous.

If you’ve never seen any of the great work made by Susan’s students, head to her instagram account and have a look at the depth of work they do.

Susan Khalje, one of the foremost educators and practitioners of couture sewing in the world, began her career with professional training at the New York couture salon Chez Cez et Bez and later as a designer on Seventh Avenue. She then established her own wedding dress and evening wear company, Susan Khalje Couture, before focusing full-time on preserving the techniques of couture sewing.

Susan is a contributing editor of Threads Magazine, was honored with The Association of Sewing and Design Professionals’ Lifetime Achievement Award and hosted Sew Much More, which ran for 6 years on HGTV and DIY. In addition to her frequent contributions to Threads Magazine, she has written for every major sewing publication. Her books include the best-selling Bridal Couture: Fine Sewing Techniques for Wedding Gowns and Evening Wear (Krause) and Linen and Cotton: Classic Sewing Techniques (Taunton). She has contributed to The Experts’ Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do and profiled in More Magazine’s 50 Celebrate 50. She has also taught for Craftsy/Blueprint: the extraordinarily successful Couture Dress and Guipure Lace Skirt classes.

She is a charter member of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (formerly The Professional Association of Custom Clothiers) and has served as its chairperson. She is a member of The Fashion Group International, The Costume Society of America and was awarded an honorary lifetime membership to the Smocking Arts Guild of America.

An exceptional and sought-after teacher, Susan established The Couture Sewing School in the 90s, and she teaches couture sewing techniques throughout the United States as well as internationally. Her professional contacts extend to Paris and London, where she yearly takes groups of students for an insider’s look at the couture arts.

Episode 16: Susan Khalje came to Australia early 2020 before covid 19 was felt by us all.

Show note links: Australian Teaching Tour, Susan Khalje Couture: Sewing Club, the London tour, the Paris tour and the couture sewing school. Dior: A New Look, A New Enterprise by Adele Palmer. Linton Tweed fabric for chanel style jackets.