“Claudia Brownlee is a costume designer and educator based in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, passionate about projects that bridge cultural gaps and committed to exploring sustainable practices in the costume industry. Her design work reflects a deep appreciation for storytelling, history, and collaboration, with a focus on how costume choices can enrich narrative and character development.

 

She holds an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (2014), a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from the University of Maryland, College Park (2017), and an MFA in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University.

 

Her career spans a range of professional roles, including stitcher and wardrobe head with WolfTrap Opera and The Washington National Opera, as well as freelance design credits with Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and NU-World Contemporary Danse Company.

 

From 2018 to 2020, she served as the Costume Shop Manager and Resident Costume Designer at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, MO, where she supported emerging artists and community productions through thoughtful, innovative design. Currently, she is the Costume Director at Pittsburgh Opera and an Assistant Professor at Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts, where she mentors the next generation of theater artists.”