Sarah Guerin

Critic

Sarah Madeleine T. Guerin is a French-American bootmaker, artist, scholar and educator based in Massachusetts. Sarah founded the bootmaking atelier Saboteuse in 2015 and is a mentor in the Mass Cultural Council’s Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program. With strong roots in Lynn, MA, a former shoemaking hub, Sarah ties historical research into the evolution of footwear production to analyze fashion systems, probing legacies of inequity in footwear making. This research informs her contemporary, craft-based practice in which she develops deliberate futures for handmade footwear. Sarah holds degrees in fine arts and architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design, museum studies from Harvard Extension School, footwear from Cordwainers at London College of Fashion and lastmaking at Lastmaker House UK, and she apprenticed with master bootmaker Jim Covington of Colorado. She approaches education with a process- and material-based focus intimately connected to social and cultural contexts. She has three children.

Courses

Fall 2024 Courses

APPAR 3102-01 - SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO
Level Undergraduate
Unit Apparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 6
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

APPAR 3102-01

SOPHOMORE INTRO TO APPAREL STUDIO

Level Undergraduate
Unit Apparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 6
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: TTH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Instructor(s): Meg DeCubellis, Sarah Guerin Location(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102 Enrolled / Capacity: 14 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

This introductory course lays the foundation for the design process through draping, pattern drafting and construction. Students make basic patterns and proceed with variations to develop pattern making skills and design concepts. Weekly textile seminars introduce students to fibers and yarns, fabric types, properties and uses.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. This course is a requirement for Sophomore Apparel Design Students. 

Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design

ID 2494-01 - INTRODUCTION TO BASIC SHOEMAKING
Level Undergraduate
Unit Industrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ID 2494-01

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC SHOEMAKING

Level Undergraduate
Unit Industrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: F | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Instructor(s): Sarah Guerin Location(s): Industrial Design Building, Room 602 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of footwear design and construction based on two different shoe styles: pump/court/slip-on and derby. During that first project you will develop skills for working with a last, pattern making, sewing, construction and finishing techniques. These skills will be applied to a second project of your own choosing and design. You will gain general understanding of the parameters of the last and its correlation to feet and pattern-making. You will gain general understanding of footwear production. From Sketching demo to Spec Specification Sheet Overview to different construction techniques applied. You will acquire a general understanding of footwear construction and terminology. You will learn basic pattern making skills and how to develop your own ideas/styles using the skills acquired. You will acquire skills necessary to work with the tools/machines on hand (knives, sewing machine, lasting pliers etc.) You will develop the skills necessary for constructing basic cemented footwear from start to finish, applying it to different styles. You will learn about materials used in shoemaking, in particular leather, but also alternative materials. For the second half of the semester (final project) you will apply and experiment using techniques/skills learned on a style of your choosing, incorporating your personal skill set to design and build your own unique footwear project (either a pair or two singles).

Elective

ID 2494-02 - INTRODUCTION TO BASIC SHOEMAKING
Level Undergraduate
Unit Industrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

ID 2494-02

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC SHOEMAKING

Level Undergraduate
Unit Industrial Design
Subject Industrial Design
Period Fall 2024
Credits 3
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2024-09-04 to 2024-12-11
Times: F | 1:10 PM - 6:10 PM Instructor(s): Sarah Guerin Location(s): Industrial Design Building, Room 602 Enrolled / Capacity: 12 Status: Closed

SECTION DESCRIPTION

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of footwear design and construction based on two different shoe styles: pump/court/slip-on and derby. During that first project you will develop skills for working with a last, pattern making, sewing, construction and finishing techniques. These skills will be applied to a second project of your own choosing and design. You will gain general understanding of the parameters of the last and its correlation to feet and pattern-making. You will gain general understanding of footwear production. From Sketching demo to Spec Specification Sheet Overview to different construction techniques applied. You will acquire a general understanding of footwear construction and terminology. You will learn basic pattern making skills and how to develop your own ideas/styles using the skills acquired. You will acquire skills necessary to work with the tools/machines on hand (knives, sewing machine, lasting pliers etc.) You will develop the skills necessary for constructing basic cemented footwear from start to finish, applying it to different styles. You will learn about materials used in shoemaking, in particular leather, but also alternative materials. For the second half of the semester (final project) you will apply and experiment using techniques/skills learned on a style of your choosing, incorporating your personal skill set to design and build your own unique footwear project (either a pair or two singles).

Elective

Spring 2025 Courses

APPAR 3121-01 - SOPHOMORE APPAREL STUDIO
Level Undergraduate
Unit Apparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Spring 2025
Credits 6
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start date
End date

APPAR 3121-01

SOPHOMORE APPAREL STUDIO

Level Undergraduate
Unit Apparel Design
Subject Apparel Design
Period Spring 2025
Credits 6
Format Studio
Mode In-Person
Start and End 2025-02-13 to 2025-05-23
Times: TTH | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Instructor(s): Meg DeCubellis, Sarah Guerin Location(s): Canal Street Studios, Room 102 Enrolled / Capacity: 15 Status: Open

SECTION DESCRIPTION

Building on basic techniques taught first semester, students proceed to more complex cuts for bodices, sleeves, skirts and pants through techniques of draping, drafting and construction. One finished garment is required.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $125.00

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. This course is a requirement for Sophomore Apparel Design Students. 

Major Requirement | BFA Apparel Design