About the Team
Meet Cathy
“I created Foundations Revealed to help us all work together to realize our costume and corsetry dreams.”
British costume artist Cathy Hay is the creator and publisher of Foundations Revealed, which was born out of a grand wish to help other dressmakers to connect with each other, stay inspired and positive, hone their skills together and realise their sewing dreams.
She is a member of both the Costume Society in the UK and the Costumer’s Guild West in the USA. Her own website is cathyhay.com.
Christina liston
Chief Operations Officer
Christina has been re-enacting and making costume for over 20 years, and wrote her dissertation on the relationship between changing religious and political norms and dress in the 17th century. More recently she has worked as a Project Manager until joining Foundations Revealed in 2022.
Perin Westerhof Nyman
Editor
Perin is an academic dress historian and historical costumer who works under the screen name Isobel Northwode. She completed her PhD, which examined late medieval and early renaissance Scottish Clothing, at the University of St Andrews earlier this year.
Meet the Mentors
Lowana O'Shea
Lowana O’Shea is the designer and corsetiere behind celebrated Australian slow fashion label Vanyanís, specializing in exquisite corsetry, bridal couture and luxury ready-to-wear fashion.
Barbara Pesendorfer
Designer and master tailoress Barbara Pesendorfer founded Royal Black Couture and Corsetry in 2006. She has created couture constructed to her own designs and patterns for over fifteen years.
Constance MacKenzie
Constance MacKenzie is a professional costume maker stuck half way between the 16th Century and the Gamma Quadrant. Much of her work is in film and television. Her first job was working at Shakespeare's Globe, and she has gone on to work on projects such as Wonder Woman, the Kingsman movies, Mary Poppins Returns, and Britannia.
bROOKLYNNE mICHELLE
Brooklynne is a historically inspired designer and couturier at her own design house, Brooklynne Michelle Couture. She has over 20 years’ experience making clothing and costumes with exquisite workmanship.
guest mentor - Luca Costigliolo
Luca Costigliolo changed the corsetry world in 2015 with just one Foundations Revealed article about synthetic whalebone. He is an extraordinarily talented costume cutter and maker for film, television and stage around the world, with a genius eye for what works in creating a truly stunning, historically accurate silhouette.
Community Concierges
Maeri
Maeri Certo is a corsetry & historical costuming enthusiast who dabbles in retro/pinup styling more often than historical dress. As a Foundations revealed Community Concierge, Maeri is excited to support this creative & caring corner of the internet and help other Stitchlings embrace their passions.
Her current passions include her millinery & costume design business Certain Sundries and expanding her personal collection of vintage-inspired clothing & lingerie.
Andrew
Andrew is a Medieval History student studying at the University of St Andrews, but originally hails from California where he grew up on a horse ranch.
His crafting career began with an apprenticeship with a local saddle maker, where he worked restoring antique saddles and tack. Since getting interested in historical costuming, much of his research has revolved around recreating and testing historical equestrian wear and tack with the aid of his horses.
Anna-catherine
Anna-Catherine was born in Washington, DC, a few short blocks from the White House. She was raised in a small town in Southern Maryland that was settled in 1695 and steeped in American History. Her surroundings growing up set the stage for her love of history. Anna-Catherine started costuming and sewing while raising her sisters child who loved being in school plays. When the Maryland Renaissance Faire came into her life, she found that costumes were her thing as well.