Making clothing has always fascinated me. I love the power than clothing holds and the intricacies of what makes a garment. I am not in the business of fashion to look cool, to add to the climate crisis fast fashion is creating, or to make others feel insecure. I’m in fashion because I love creating clothing, because we all wear clothing, and because clothing is my outlet to entrepreneurship and innovation.
Fashion is fun and people don’t have to commit to a full college curriculum to learn fashion skills. We are here to encourage customers to try new things - whether it’s a new skill like sewing or to start the fashion line they’ve been dreaming of.
After 10 years of running my clothing brand, I pivoted my company to teach others fashion skills and how to navigate this nebulous and complex industry. Our team of fashion professional instructors are highly skilled, personable, and fit our company culture. It's important to me they are also learning new skills, getting paid a reasonable wage, and making connections that will further their fashion careers. We hope you can find the joy we have in creating our own clothes.
- Anna Hovet Dias
Meet Our Team
At Hovet Fashion we employ Chicago's top fashion designers currently working in the industry. These talented individuals work hands-on with you to guide you through the fashion projects of your choice and answer your questions about the fashion industry.
Kate Van asten |
Sewing woven · pattern making · SEWING knits |
Kate VanAsten is our in-house sewing whiz! She is also an amateur gardener, long-distance cyclist, and lifelong tomboy.
Her fashion line, Wulfka, is a super cool, super cozy ready-to-wear brand that is manufactured in Chicago and sold in several local boutiques and on her website.
She studied fashion design at FIT in New York. After graduating, she moved to Chicago and launched Wulfka in 2013 from an extra room in her apartment where she designed and sewed every piece. She lives in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood with her husband Zak, and her coonhound Musubi Burger King.
A few years ago she started a side project--"Im-Peach-Mint Candles"-- and has raised over $17,000 for the ACLU to defend human rights!
Goli parvinian |
Sewing · alterations · bridal · draping |
Goli Parvinian can sew even the slinkiest fabrics. She helps our students pattern and sew all kinds of garments.
Fueled by her love of travel, culture and a nomadic lifestyle, she launched her bridal brand, Goli June in 2019. Goli June is a non-traditional, aesthetically wearable bridal brand that seeks to empower, support and value women as well as facilitate a fun and painless process of finding a wedding gown.
She received her BFA in Fashion Design from Columbia College Chicago in 2015, and went on to work for renowned bridal brands in New Zealand, New York City, and Melbourne, Australia. She completed her MBA at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology at the end of 2018 and returned to her hometown of Chicago in order to launch her own bridal brand.
Lauren markt |
Tech Packs · full production development |
Lauren Markt has over a decade of experience in product development, production management, and branding. She helps clients create tech packs, fabric source, get samples made, and coordinate production.
In 2017 Lauren founded Syl Markt. The collection is inspired by the way the natural world overtakes human-made environments. This relationship between urban centers and nature is reflected in the use of organic and technical fabrications and in the one-of-a-kind prints pulled from Lauren's original artwork.
Lauren is committed to creating beautiful garments that are hand made with care and detail- she focuses on impeccable construction and fit.
She believes who makes our clothes and what they are made of is as much a part of the brand as the design.
Lauren studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design and Art History at UCLA. She previously worked for Jenni Kayne in Los Angeles and lives in Chicago.
Anna Hovet Dias |
business consulting · fashion design + illustration |
Named one of Newcity's top 50 design professionals to watch in 2020 and 2022, Anna Hovet Dias is a fashion designer, entrepreneur, and educator with 16 years experience in corporate and small business fashion. Anna had her own athleisure fashion line, HØVET Apparel, for 10 years before she transitioned the business to Hovet Fashion Studio. As Executive Director at the Chicago Fashion Incubator, Hovet continues to be a leader in Chicago fashion.
Her passion is fashion illustration, which she teaches at her alma mater the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Anna loves to draw and design, but doesn't love sewing! She's currently learning Clo3d software to design virtual clothing.
She lives in Logan Square with her husband Nate and two pups, and they were recently featured on an episode of HGTV's House Hunters.
Blair Goldman |
Sewing · upcycling |
Blair Goldman is the “Trashion” expert! Taking inspiration from second hand treasures, Blair’s passion lies in creating and teaching sustainable and upcycled fashion. She’ll teach you the skills to make a mean thrift flip!
Her designs have won her first place in two competitions, and have been worn by artists such as Lizzo and Dorian Electra. She is also currently the Designer in Residence at AIBI Chicago. When she’s not working on show stopping show pieces, she is building her line of loveable, huggable plush frogs named “Chongus”.
Blair is a self-taught sewist of over 15 years, with disciplines ranging from pattern making, cosplay, plush doll design, embroidery, alterations, and many more. You can find Blair’s catalog of work on her website.
Liz williams |
Pattern-making · draping |
Liz Williams is our pattern-making expert. She can help you construct the building blocks of your design.
Founder of The Checkroom, Liz designs classic inspired statement coats for modern women. A former Instructor of Fashion Design at Columbia College in Chicago, Liz has educated students in fashion design, patternmaking, sewing, and fashion theory and practice. Liz’s education was forged at Parson’s School of Design where earned an Associate’s Degree in Fashion Design and at The University of Colorado where she received her Bachelor’s degree while studying Costume Design.
Liz worked as a fashion designer in New York City for several years for the
brand, Martin and Osa where she focused on outerwear and women’s woven
apparel. She has also worked as a Costume Technician in Chicago for numerous theatre companies including The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.