This content was published: March 27, 2006. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
This new program is always in fashion
Photos and story by James Hill
Eileen Celentano is always in fashion.
From her days at UCLA to designing apparel for feature films in Los Angeles to now running Portland Community College’s new non-credit Fashion Design program, Celentano has an eye for trendy apparel.
“The goal is for the students to develop basic skills that can lead to an entry level position in the fashion industry,” said Celentano. “It’s a great thing to be able offer this completion program. It’s a new thing at the community college level in Oregon and something that is much needed here. That’s why I proposed this completion program to Community Education.”
The Fashion Design Professional Completion program is designed for those who wish to advance their skills or develop careers in Fashion Design. The program consists of 10 foundation courses, a minimum of 20 hours of elective coursework, and 80 to 100 hours of professional internship.
“The great thing about learning at the community college is that the student will pay substantially less to learn,” Celentano said.
Celentano has been interested in fashion design since day one. She has a bachelor’s degree in fashion arts from UCLA and a master’s in design and theater from Long Beach State. She has 20-plus years of professional experience and has been instrumental in developing apparel companies, working as a costume designer for theater and film productions, fashion shows, and producing annual college productions and student educational tours to Europe. She has even designed her own line of apparel called Zado, Inc.
“I developed a line of garments for women who had surgeries due to breast cancer,” said Celentano. “It served a goal by making women feel more comfortable in what they wore.”
The series in the completion program help students learn about areas of fashion such as textiles; pattern-making; apparel construction and sewing; survey the history of fashion and the current industry; fashion sketching and design/product development; and professional portfolio development.
“To have this program be a success is very important to me,” said Celentano. “The community college is a great way to go because students can get the basics of fashion design right here and start working right away.”
For more information about the start of spring classes, contact the PCC Community Education office at 503-731-6642.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »