Lawrence University senior Jordan Wallin-Swanson has spent over a decade honing her skills at the sewing machine, influenced by a family of creators. She was introduced to sewing before the age of 10 and has pursued it ever since, taking her passion into the realm of theater costume design.
“I have a big world of people that sew in my life,” said Wallin-Swanson, who is studying business and entrepreneurship alongside theatre arts. Her early projects included whale plushies with patterns made by her father, while her high school years saw her designing costumes for theater productions like Beauty and the Beast JR.
“It was a lot of Googling,” Wallin-Swanson said about learning costume design on her own. Her education continued at Lawrence University, where she took Costume Crafts and Technology with instructor Kärin Kopischke. This class provided formal training in sewing and costuming.
Wallin-Swanson recently worked as costume designer and shop supervisor for Lawrence's fall 2024 musical, Working. The play presented challenges due to its depiction of different eras, requiring costumes from both the 1970s and modern day. “Each of these stories are intertwined and map together,” she explained.
Initially considering a career as a high school librarian, Wallin-Swanson's experiences at Lawrence shifted her focus towards theater. “I really enjoyed sewing, I really enjoyed theater," she stated, noting how connections in the theater department opened new possibilities.
For her senior project, Wallin-Swanson plans to create a comprehensive guide for costume shops worldwide. This "bible" will include scripts, measurements, designs, and other essential details for productions.
Her first professional role came as wardrobe supervisor at Northern Sky Theater in Door County during the summer. Kopischke helped facilitate this opportunity. “It starts out as a professional relationship,” Wallin-Swanson said of their connection.
Reflecting on her experience at Northern Sky Theater, she shared: “I felt very underprepared going in... I realized I actually have all of the skills needed to do this.”
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