COSTUME SOCIETY OF AMERICA The Costume Society of America advances the global understanding of all aspects of dress and appearance. Works to stimulate scholarship and encourage study in the rich and diverse field of costume. Offers symposia, study tours, grants, job listings.

GREATER BAY AREA COSTUMER'S GUILD A website for recreational costumers, this is a treasure-house of links to sources for costumers, anything from a local bootmaker to ready-to-wear period clothing. Go to the website and click on Resources for Costuming.

MUSEUM OF PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN Formerly the San Francisco Performing Arts Library and Museum, the research library is open to the public and contains many items (costume, theatre, opera, and dance-related ephemera, fashion magazines, pattern catalogs, videos of dance performances) not to be found anywhere else. Its book catalog can be searched online, but you may need to ask the librarian for help with non-book items.

THE COSTUMER'S MANIFESTO Costumer and educator Tara Maginnis, Ph. D., runs this vast, encyclopedic guide to online costume research, suppliers of materials and ready-made costumes, and costume related information of all kinds.

THEATRE BAY AREA San Francisco Bay Area organization for professional, educational, and amateur theatre workers. Job listings, magazine, job fairs.... And half-price tickets.

UNITED SCENIC ARTISTS Local 829 I.A.T.S.E. On the West Coast, this is the union for theatrical scenery, costume, lighting, and sound designers, as well as for some stylists and craftspersons. Sets minimum fees for designers and negotiates contracts with theatres. Site contains contracts, forms, exam information & schedules, etc. Many designers with national reputations post their portfolios online at this website (click on Member Showcase), which is well worth a visit.

USITT COSTUME COMMISSION The United States Institute for Theatre Technology is an organization for theatre technicians, designers, and teachers. USITT is divided into Commissions, and the Costume Commission is the largest.
Its website offers a guide to graduate and undergraduate university costume programs, a Costume Locator Service (which puts costume rental programs in touch with people wishing to rent productions), a Costumers' Info list, where you can ask questions and get answers from a community of 500 costume designers and technicians, and information about upcoming USITT conventions and Symposia.
Click for the USITT Costume Commission

USITT Costume Info Yahoo group (You do not need to be a member to visit the yahoogroup.)

last updated 05/04/09