In Conversation with Nikki Weston, Costume Designer and Sewing Tutor

We spoke with Nikki Weston, the tutor who will be leading our brand new Sewing for Beginners short course in July 2024. 

After a successful career working for the Home Office, in 2019 Nikki decided to change path and went to university to study costume construction, achieving a first class honours degree in 2022. Now working professionally as a dresser, wardrobe manager, costume supervisor and maker for TV, theatre and opera, she also teaches costume students at Guildhall.
 

Tell us your biography in one sentence.

Nikki: Costume maker, designer, teacher and most of all sewer! 

Can you tell us a bit about what brought you to costume design and your career to date? 

After graduating from my degree I had no grand plan, I am just grateful that I can make a living doing what I love. I prefer to be making – I’m happiest with a needle in my hand, but I do also enjoy wardrobe management in live theatre. Over the last 20 years, regardless of what I am doing (and I have done lots of very diverse things) I always end up teaching! I gravitate towards it and get so much enjoyment from it.

You came to costume design slightly later in life than others. What prompted you to make this change in direction and what would you say to others thinking about a career change?

Again, no grand plan. I discovered during my degree that I have ADHD, and I have been prone to seeking the dopamine hit and doing something on a whim. Whilst deciding to do my degree felt like that initially, I now consider it as one of the greatest periods of my life. My decision was driven by my mother’s health; I don’t know that I would have made the decision then wholly for ‘myself’. Which is a sad indictment of modern life!

I would tell anyone to go for it – you regret what you didn’t do, not what you tried to do. I did not think that university was open to someone like me (not entirely sure what I thought I meant by that though). It turns out, I was really good at it!

When not designing and making costumes professionally, you do a lot of teaching. What do you think are the benefits of teaching and learning textiles, sewing and costume? 

I teach a lot of women in my age group (40-50s) to make and alter clothes, and I think the benefits of this are twofold. Firstly, sewing is very therapeutic and sewing in groups is really good for the soul. I see friendships built in my groups, and the support and kindness in abundance. Secondly, the high street just gets so many clothes wrong. Mass-produced fashion is not only killing the planet, but it's also so often so badly made and can make normal people feel so bad about their bodies. Learning to sew is freedom, freedom to dress how you want with no rules or limits!

In July you’ll be teaching the Sewing for Beginners weekend course at Guildhall – what can people look forward to from the course? 

This two-day course gives a good foundation of the basic skills of sewing. It will give you confidence with a sewing machine, encouragement to try new things and also an introduction into how clothing is constructed.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about booking onto the course, who might be feeling a bit nervous? 

It doesn’t matter of you have never sewn in your life, I can guarantee that you will leave having created something. Every person can go at their own pace and the point is not only to learn but to have fun in a safe space. There is no such thing as failure, only learning.

Recently you worked on Guildhall’s sold-out production of Handel’s opera Alcina. The costumes looked amazing for this – can you tell us about some of the inspiration behind the looks we saw on stage? 

The Director had a vision that he wanted some high fashion and some old-fashioned Hollywood glamour; it’s not often you get such freedom to make something so fabulous. The purple gown I created was exactly the kind of thing I love to make and see on a body.

What has been the favourite garment or costume you’ve worked on throughout your career to date? 

It is usually what I am currently working on! Every piece I sew create or alter has a bit of me in it, I care passionately about everything I make and throw myself into new projects and love anything unusual. One of my favourite items was an 18^th Century sack-back dress for my friend Casta Hex, who is a drag queen.

Sewing for Beginners will run from Sat 27 July–Sun 28 July – spaces on this course are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.