About

Willa Peterson

"Eager to continue learning - with experience in apparel and costume design, fashion flats, pattern-making, paper making, visual display, embroidery, crochet, knitting, and more."

Willa is a fashion designer and textile artist. She graduated in May 2026 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a B.S. in Textiles and Fashion Design, Certificates in Studio Art and Theatre, and a 3.75 GPA. Her practice bridges technical precision and handcrafted artistry - from producing technical fashion flats in Adobe Illustrator to designing and building costumes for live theatrical productions.

In Fall 2025, she studied abroad at SRISA in Florence, Italy - deepening her understanding of European fashion heritage and fine craft traditions. She is actively seeking opportunities in apparel design, textile arts, and related creative industries.

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Warmed Up Blocked Jacket Much Ado About Nothing - Costume Willa Peterson
Study Abroad

SRISA - Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy  ·  Fall 2025.

This was an amazing experience in which I was immersed in the history and craft of Italian fashion and textiles in one of the world's foremost design cities.

Skills & Tools

Software

Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Adobe InDesign Procreate Clo3D

Construction

Pattern Making Sewn Construction Costume Design Hand Knitting Crochet Embroidery Felting Paper Making

Coursework

Fashion Illustration Textile Science Color Theory Experimental Textiles Retail Marketing Visual Display
Education
University of Wisconsin–Madison
May 2026
B.S. Textiles & Fashion Design  ·  Madison, WI
  • Certificates in Studio Art and Theatre
  • GPA: 3.75
  • Study Abroad: SRISA, Florence, Italy - Fall 2025
  • Relevant Coursework: Pattern Making, Fashion Illustration, Textile Science, Color Theory, Experimental Textiles, Costume Design I & II, Sewn Construction I & II, Retail Marketing
Experience
UW–Madison Theatre
2024–2026
Lead Costume Designer / Wardrobe Supervisor / Stitcher  ·  Madison, WI
  • Conducted script analysis and historical research to develop cohesive costume design concepts
  • Presented design renderings to directors and production teams
  • Executed final designs by renting, pulling from stock, purchasing, and building garments from scratch
  • Organized, pressed, and staged costumes prior to each performance; performed on-the-spot repairs during live shows
  • Followed patterns and marked costume pieces with precision; altered garments to specific actor measurements
Janet Marie Felted Goods
Jun–Sep 2025
Textile Production Intern  ·  Middleton, WI
  • Streamlined fulfillment of online and wholesale orders, ensuring accurate, on-time delivery
  • Designed and developed new wholesale products while maintaining cost-effective production methods
  • Managed a personal production schedule independently to meet deadlines across multiple projects
  • Collaborated with a small team to produce accurate, timely goods for wholesale and retail clients
Anthropologie
Jun 2022–Present
Artist Assistant / Omni Specialist / Sales Associate  ·  Madison, WI / Atlanta, GA
  • Collaborated with a visual artist to design and install in-store displays, including hand-crocheted yardage featured in the storefront
  • Partnered with team members to divide daily responsibilities across sales, display, and fulfillment
  • Managed the POS system to track, process, and package online orders for accurate, on-time shipping
  • Mentored coworkers on back-of-house operations to build a more organized, collaborative store environment

Contact

Let's work together.

pwilla88@gmail.com (608) 770-5372 LinkedIn