Teacher Tereva Adams Threads Together Community Through Fashion Design – a Q and A

By DONNA BALANCIA

BALTIMORE – Tereva Adams has brought community to Baltimore through her passion for fashion design.

The veteran teacher, who instills success in people through implementing and finishing creative projects, inspires people of all walks of life. Adams is a community pillar, a caring person, a friend, and a loving mother.

Adams teaches students far more than the craft of sewing and creating with fabric. Her creations and those of her students run the gamut in color and beauty and each piece tells a story. She teaches in her home, a regular hub of sewing machine activity as people measure, stitch and converse. Adams has set aside a part of the house where students come in and gather around the great table, and while they work with textiles, they also socialize. More than making a garment, Adams and her students are creating community.

“It’s like a homey atmosphere here,” Adams said of her studio. “I even invite students to come to my house for a cookout, but I tell them they have to bring an outfit that they’ve made. I love my students.”

The students love her too. After all, Adams is imparting her passion and that’s a special craft, which like many today – are seeing a sunset.

“Did you see that the fabric stores are closing?” she asked. “I tell you, I never thought I would see that in my lifetime.”

In response to that, Adams – whose previous work was at NASA – has switched it up, and she has told her students and sewing friends to do the same.

“You can’t make an outfit for $150, and it takes so much time to make it,” she said. “You have to look at dollars and cents. I tell my customers to go to the bridal stores find an outfit and bring it to me and we can personalize it. That’s how it is now. Years ago everybody got their clothing made by hand.”

Adams recalled some of her fabric store favorites like PA Fabric Outlet and Minnesota Fabric, in DC there was Fabric Corner.

“Baltimore is where fashion started until we had the great fire,” she said. “But G Street Fabric is one place I can recommend. They’ve downsized over the years, but you can find great fabrics there.”

The Maryland Baltimore News sat down with Tereva Adams to ask her the important questions.

Q: You’ve made a life of your craft, how important is it for young people to actually work at what they like to do?

A: It’s incredibly important. Whether it’s full-time or part-time, working in a field you enjoy ensures you’ll stick with it. Your passion can become your business. While we all face pressures in life, engaging in a creative craft brings pleasure and fulfillment.

Q: Your many awards and certificates show a life of achievement, what do the awards and certificates represent to you?

A: They represent hard work and dedication. Each one is a testament to my commitment to my passion and what I accomplished at various points in my life.

Q: You’re a fashion designer with a passion for the craft of putting together fabric and assembling clothes. Is there a new modern word for what you do?

A: Yes, it’s often referred to as ‘apparel technology’. This term encompasses the use of technology to design, create, and produce clothing and accessories, including advances in materials and production methods. Additionally, I specialize in wearable art, which brings an artistic touch to functional clothing.

Q: How many years have you been teaching and who are some of your stellar students?

A: I’ve been teaching for over 43 years. Some of my standout students include my daughter Kelley, as well as Lawanda, Georgia, Ethel, and Cynthia, who excel in custom sewing and designing. Additionally, many other students have pursued further education, such as Jocelyn, who graduated from Bowie State University and now lives in Italy to further her love for fashion education.

Q: What was your happiest moment in your career?

A: There have been many happy moments in my career, but I will mention three of them:

1. Hosting a fashion show at Martin’s West with 500 people in attendance and a waiting list. The late Congressman Elijah Cummings opened the show for me.

2. Watching my students showcase their designs in multiple fashion shows.

3. Working on the Thermal Reflector System Development Team (TRS) project at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Q: Your daughter has followed in your footsteps. Is that something that came naturally or did you encourage her to pursue fashion design?

A: It definitely came naturally. When she was 4 or 5 years old, she would stand on the back of my chair, looking over my shoulder as I sewed. Kelley was always in the sewing room, cutting or creating designs. Her favorite thing was making pajamas. She learned to sew on my Kenmore sewing machine that my parents bought me when I was 9 years old, and started using my industrial machine at the tender age of 6 or 7.

Q: Tell us a little bit about the canning uniforms you created for the Baltimore Museum of Industry.

A: I was asked by Ann Steels, the curator at that time, to recreate the items that people wore to work in the canning industry. Even little children were workers. The biggest challenge was locating the fabrics. The Baltimore Museum of Industry had a picture on the wall. I studied the picture to figure out what these little girls and ladies were wearing. Once I found the materials, I had to wash them many times and add a little bleach to give them that period-specific look.

Q: How would you encourage young people to get into the business? Is there such a thing as an “agent” or representative for aspiring fashion designers?

A: For aspiring fashion designers, mastering the basics is absolutely essential. Here’s a roadmap to guide you:

1. Learn to Operate Your Machine Safely: Start by understanding how to safely operate your sewing machine. Knowledge of its functionality sets the foundation for everything else.

2. Master Clothing Construction: Dive into the intricacies of clothing construction. This includes:

– Types of seams such as corner seams, French seams, slot seams, and welt seams etc…
– Various zipper applications to enhance your designs.
– Techniques for creating pleats, darts, and other essential garment features.

3. Understand Your Fabrics: Become knowledgeable about different types of fabrics—both natural and synthetic. Knowing which fabrics will work best with your designs is crucial. Keep in mind that the inside of a garment should look just as polished as the outside.

4. Develop a Strong Work Ethic: A good work ethic is indispensable. Consistently strive for excellence and be prepared to put in the effort required to achieve it.

5. Keep Learning: Sewing is a perpetual learning experience. Stay curious and continuously seek new techniques and skills.

6. Vision and Design: Have a clear vision for your designs. Envision how you want your creations to look and focus on the details that will bring your vision to life.

7. Construction Details: Finally, consider the practical aspects of your designs. Think about how the garment will be worn and how you will construct it to ensure both aesthetics and functionality.

Following these steps will help you lay a strong foundation for your career in fashion design.

Q: Is there such a thing as an “agent” or representative for aspiring fashion designers?

A: Yes, there is! Fashion sales representatives play a crucial role in the industry. They are well-rounded, adaptable, and flexible professionals who often work for fashion manufacturers or wholesalers. Their main task is to sell the products manufactured by their fashion company, bridging the gap between designers and the market.

Q: How supportive has your family been with your career?

A: My family has always been incredibly supportive and encouraging throughout my career.

Early Support: My parents gifted me my first sewing machine (a Kenmore by Singer), and I learned quilting from my grandmother. I also picked up sewing techniques from my aunts.

Fashion Shows: My cousins often modeled and provided commentary during my fashion shows.

Later Support: As life progressed, my husband and 5 children played significant roles in developing sewing programs for Baltimore County, organizing student fashion shows, and planning numerous fashion trips to places like New York’s Garment District and Washington DC’s Textile Museum.

Balancing Act: Thanks to the loving support of my husband, young adults children and family, I was able to balance religion, family, and work and continue pursuing my career with zeal. Our firm beliefs shape our goals.