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 llumiNITE and continues to update and develop the line.
Courses
Fall 2023 Courses
APPAR 3102-01 - SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Fall 2023
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 2023
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TTH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Mary Kawenski, Meg DeCubellisLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102Enrolled / Capacity: 14Status: Open
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 by the department. This course is a requirement for Sophomore Apparel Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design
APPAR 3102-02 - SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Fall 2023
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
APPAR 3102-02
SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
PeriodFall 2023
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2023-09-06 to 2023-12-13
Times: TTH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Mary Kawenski, Meg DeCubellisLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102Enrolled / Capacity: 14Status: Open
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 by the department. This course is a requirement for Sophomore Apparel Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design
Spring 2024 Courses
APPAR 3141-01 - SENIOR APPAREL COLLECTION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Spring 2024
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
APPAR 3141-01
SENIOR APPAREL COLLECTION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
PeriodSpring 2024
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: TTH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PMInstructor(s): Catherine Andreozzi, Meg DeCubellisLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 302Enrolled / Capacity: 13Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This senior level course focuses on the design of unique interpretation of apparel design. The senior collections are a culmination of their skills and an exploration of their design vision. Originality, problem solving, and an organized design process are defined as essential elements of a successful degree project collection. Seniors refine and build their portfolios. Projects are aimed at enabling students to express a diverse but cohesive design vision.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $1,000.00
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Senior Apparel Design Students.
Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design
APPAR 3141-02 - SENIOR APPAREL COLLECTION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Spring 2024
Credits 6
FormatStudio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date
APPAR 3141-02
SENIOR APPAREL COLLECTION
LevelUndergraduate
UnitApparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
PeriodSpring 2024
Credits6
FormatStudio
ModeIn-Person
Start and End2024-02-15 to 2024-05-24
Times: TTH | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PMInstructor(s): Catherine Andreozzi, Meg DeCubellisLocation(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 302Enrolled / Capacity: 13Status: Open
SECTION DESCRIPTION
This senior level course focuses on the design of unique interpretation of apparel design. The senior collections are a culmination of their skills and an exploration of their design vision. Originality, problem solving, and an organized design process are defined as essential elements of a successful degree project collection. Seniors refine and build their portfolios. Projects are aimed at enabling students to express a diverse but cohesive design vision.
Estimated Cost of Materials: $1,000.00
Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Senior Apparel Design Students.
