Claudia Brownlee

Claudia Brownlee is a costume designer and educator from the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. She is passionate about projects that bridge cultural gaps and is committed to exploring sustainable practices in the costume industry. Her design work reflects a deep appreciation for storytelling, history, and collaboration, with a focus on how costume choices can enrich narrative and character development. Claudia holds an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology (2014), a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from the University of Maryland, College Park (2017), and an MFA in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University. Her career spans a range of professional roles, including stitcher and wardrobe head at Wolf Trap Opera and The Washington National Opera, as well as freelance design credits with the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Theater Squared. From 2018 to 2020, she served as the Costume Shop Manager and Resident Costume Designer at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, MO, where she supported emerging artists through thoughtful and innovative design. From 2023 to 2025, she worked as the Costume Director at Pittsburgh Opera. Currently, Claudia is an Assistant Professor of Costume Design at Louisiana State University (LSU) and continues to work as a freelance costume designer.