Apparel Design alumna Meg DeCubellis 83 AP specializes in construction and development with a focus on the intersection of design and manufacturing. Her focus at RISD is on teaching the basics of drafting, draping, textiles and construction.
DeCubellis is mentor for the annual Supima Design Competition in which a new graduate is selected each year to create evening-wear looks using Supima denims, knits, velveteen, twill and shirting. The stunning results of this competition are shown as part of New York Fashion Week. DeCubellis has also coordinated the Rockport shoe competition May Each Step You Take Be Sweet, in which students design shoes out of candy donated by Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York.
DeCubellis began her career in NYC at Jack Winter, Inc. and then worked for Mast Industries and The Limited. As design director at Cherry Tree, she oversaw the production of an infant/childrenswear line and earned an Earnie Award from Earnshaw’s magazine for excellence in children’s outerwear design.
DeCubellis is co-owner of illumiNITE reflective running and cycling gear, which is made locally in Fall River, MA. From her factory location, she also works closely with young designers on developing their collections as VP of Creative Design at Accurate Services.
In her short amount of spare time, DeCubellis runs a nonprofit, Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation, which was founded after the death of her daughter, Katie, at the hands of a drunk driver. Through the KDMF, she and her husband John have addressed more than 200,000 students and military personnel on good decision-making and the dangers of drunk driving and substance abuse.
DeCubellis lives in Narragansett with her husband John.
Academic areas of interest
DeCubellis has always been interested in the construction and function of garments. Her focus at RISD has mostly been with sophomore students and their foundation of drafting, draping, textiles and construction. She enjoys introducing students to local factories and small-batch manufacturing and how zero waste manufacturing can start at the earliest stages of design.
In her freelance design business, DeCubellis focuses on athletic clothing with reflectivity embedded in screen-printed fabric designs. She has redesigned the running and cycling gear collection for illumiNITE and continues to update and develop the line.
Courses
Fall 2024 Courses
APPAR 3102-01 - SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
APPAR 3102-01
SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
PeriodFall 2024
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: TTH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Meg DeCubellis, Sarah GuerinLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102Enrolled / Capacity: 14Status: Closed
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This introductory course lays the foundation for the design process through draping, pattern drafting and construction. Students make basic patterns and proceed with variations to develop pattern making skills and design concepts. Weekly textile seminars introduce students to fibers and yarns, fabric types, properties and uses.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. This course is a requirement for Sophomore Apparel Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design
Spring 2025 Courses
APPAR 3121-01 - SOPHOMORE APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Spring 2025
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
APPAR 3121-01
SOPHOMORE APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: TTH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Meg DeCubellis, Sarah GuerinLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102Enrolled / Capacity: 15Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Building on basic techniques taught first semester, students proceed to more complex cuts for bodices, sleeves, skirts and pants through techniques of draping, drafting and construction. One finished garment is required.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $125.00
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. This course is a requirement for Sophomore Apparel Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design
APPAR 3060-01 - WHO WEARS THE PANTS?
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Spring 2025
Credits 3
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
APPAR 3060-01
WHO WEARS THE PANTS?
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
PeriodSpring 2025
Credits3
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: T | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Meg DeCubellisLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102Enrolled / Capacity: 12Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
Who Wears the Pants? This course is about trousers - their function, fit, design and development. You will learn how to design and execute custom made trousers by recording and calculating key body measurements to draft, construct and fit a basic pants sloper. Students will acquire skills to manipulate the basic sloper into a variety of styles through pattern drafting exercises integrating trouser shapes and silhouettes, pockets, waistbands, openings, and design details. Classes and individual tutorials cover the development of bespoke trousers from concept to execution. You will gain a better understanding of the apparel design and creative problem solving processes, pattern drafting techniques using metric and imperial measurements, laying out and cutting fabric, constructing a basic trouser, fitting diverse body types, constructing a fly front opening and pockets; including tutorials focused on resolving individual trouser designs. Experience in garment construction recommended. Advanced sewing skills are necessary to take this course.
