Costume Design

Costume design at Lehigh connects theatre to the wider world of fashion, storytelling, and culture. In the Department of Theatre’s costume shop, students gain hands-on experience in research, sketching, draping, and garment construction while supporting productions on the Diamond and Black Box stages.

The program emphasizes both technical craft and artistic vision. Students study patterning, tailoring, and fabric work, while also developing a designer’s eye for how clothing reflects identity, period, and emotion. Professor Erica Hoelscher, who leads costume design in the department, works in tandem with the Costume Director, visiting designers, and student designers to create the garments that bring Lehigh’s productions to life.

Many students assist with builds and fittings during their time at Lehigh, and some take on larger design projects as they gain confidence and skill. Others extend their work through the Apparel Design Minor, broadening their study of fashion and textiles beyond the stage.

Costume design at Lehigh is distinctive for the access it provides. Undergraduates are trusted with meaningful roles in the production process—experience that often comes later at larger programs. Students graduate with strong portfolios, many earning recognition for their work or continuing on to MFA programs and professional opportunities in theatre, fashion, and design.

At its heart, costume design at Lehigh is not just about making clothes. It is about crafting garments that express character, define time and place, and create the visual poetry that makes performance unforgettable.