From 2003-2010, Pamela Ptak taught the Couture Graduate Class in Corseted Evening Wear at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.  A highly technical class requiring advanced levels of draping, patternmaking, machine and fine hand sewing, the class was available to Drexel University's full time fashion design students only.

Focusing on evening wear with visible corsetry, hidden foundation layers and corselettes (some call them French linings), students sketch a collection of garments & create one ensemble in 10 weeks using only couture techniques. Students become intensely involved with draping, patternmaking & couture hand finishing work. Through my draping demos of rare techniques &  explanations & demos of complicated sewing samples, students create couture sample books they’ll show to employers.  

I’m delighted when students tax my brain to invent solutions to outrageous problems. In a single semester I must know every answer for more than a dozen ensembles. They trust me because I'm honest, because I hold them to the same high standards of excellence I expect of myself and because I continue to work on collections for NY fashion week. And they know I’ll never hold back on knowledge. I give them everything I have and I dig for more…including doing research and study in private fashion collections the world over to gain added bits to share with them.

Graduates of this class have gone on to own their own design ateliers, to work for major fashion designers all over the world, to win top prize in major international design competitions (the only two Americans to ever win the top prize at "The Arts of Fashion" competition in Paris were students of Pamela's Drexel University couture class), and to become college fashion professors in major American cities. I am very proud of their excellent progress and accomplishments. They have all worked very hard to acheive their high honors.

If you are interested in becoming a full time fashion design student at Drexel University, please go to WWW.DREXEL.EDU for further information or call 1-800-2-DREXEL or 1-215-.895-2400.