LILA C. FROST | Curriculum Vitae
Graduate of the Fashion Design Major at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology
Contact
410-258-3885
Education
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
B.S. expected May 2025
GPA: 4.028
Baltimore City College
Baltimore, Maryland
IB Diploma, May 2021
Grants & Awards
- Cornell Human Ecology 2025 Commencement Speaker
- Outstanding Senior in Fiber Science and Apparel Design
- Outstanding Junior in Fiber Science and Apparel Design
- Outstanding Sophomore in Fiber Science and Apparel Design
- Barbara L. Kuhlman Foundation Fiber and Wearable Arts scholarship & exhibition
Exhibitions
- Capstone fashion collection displayed in the Cornell Fashion & Design Expo
- Capstone fashion collection displayed in the Cornell Fashion Collective's 41st Annual Spring Runway show
- Collection of local NY State wool items displayed at the Hudson Valley Textile Summit
- Botanically dyed blouse displayed at The Johnson Museum of Art, exhibition "Home Making: Artists and the Domestic"
- Fashion restoration work displayed at Lyndhurst Manor in exhibit "Influencers: 1920s Fashion and the New Woman"
- Presented displayed two lingerie looks in the Cornell Fashion Collective's 39th Annual Spring Runway Show
- Presented one fashion look in the Cornell Fashion Collective's Fall Milstein Show
- Presented two fashion looks in the Cornell Fashion Collective's 39th Annual Spring Runway Show
- Presented one look in the Cornell Fashion Collective's 38th Annual Spring Runway Show
Technical Skills
- Antique garment restoration
- Couture hand sewing
- Pattern drafting
- Fashion draping
- Industrial sewing machine operation
- Flat-bed and Shima Seiki knitting
- Natural dying and mordanting
- Preparing and spinning wool
- Conservation techniques
- Object handling - textiles
Administrative Skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Writing
- Google Workspace
Communications Skills
- Confident public speaker
- Excellent written communication
Experience
Atelier Associate & Project Coordinator
MIMI PROBER
June 2025 – Present
Responsibilities include:
-Work directly with Creative Director/Designer in Atelier and with production partners to assist in the process of development and fulfillment of textiles & collection, research, technical packages, sampling, and production.
-Coordinate project development, planning, and process with Mimi Prober for press/media, private clients, B2B, and retail. In addition to working with Mimi Prober and partners in building brand copy and media assets, as needed, for media channels (social media, website, B2B, retail, etc).
-Uphold Mimi Prober's founding philosophy of preservation, farm to fiber, ethical production, and community engagement.
Experience gained:
Refining perspective on sustainable fashion production; applying and expanding understanding of the fashion supply chain; strengthening proficiency on Adobe Illustrator by creating fashion flats; fabricating samples involving a variety of hands-on skills including but not limited to machine knitting, hand felting, embroidery, and spinning; social media and content strategy planning; writing copy.
Costume Institute Associate
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
December 2024 – January 2025
Responsibilities include:
- Dressing and styling mannequins for “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” catalogue photography.
- Collaborating with curators and photographers to authentically represent the cultural and historical significance of Black tailoring traditions.
- Adapting styling techniques to highlight unique tailoring details and craftsmanship.
- Collaborating with photographer, curators and conservation specialists to ensure garments are captured in their best form under varied lighting conditions.
- Handling vintage textiles with care according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art object handling protocols.
- Providing on-set support to adjust mannequins, garments, or props as needed to maintain flawless presentation during photoshoots.
Experience gained:
Attention to detail, experience with creative teamwork, experience preparation of garments for photography, insights into photoshoot management and curatorial decision making.
Research Assistant
Cornell Fashion and Textile Collection
September 2021 – Present
Responsibilities include:
- Dressing and photographing mannequins and dress forms collections documentation and exhibition purposes.
- Contributing to the organization, cataloging and maintenance of a large collection of diverse materials including textiles, accessories, and archival documents.
- Restoring historic garments including detailed cleaning, repairing, and stabilization techniques, to maintain professional conservation standards.
- Assisting on curatorial projects including exhibit planning, research, garment mounting and installation
- Engaging with visitors in a variety of ways such as tours, special events, and gallery presentations, providing insight into significant objects, historical contexts, and museum practices to enhance public understanding and visitor experience.
Experience gained: Conducting in-depth research on historical garments and materials to support exhibition development and public programming, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including curators, educators, and research assistants.
Research Assistant
College of Human Ecology, Cornell University
May 2024 – November 2024
Responsibilities included:
- Supporting the faculty in Human Centered Design on project “Designing for Health and Longevity: Evaluating and Improving Colorfastness and Antimicrobial Properties of Fabrics Dyed with Biowaste and Weeds.”
- Maintaining a natural dye garden.
- Collaborating with local industries to source botanicals, to contribute to the design of a naturally dyed fashion collection.
- Preparing and testing yardage and samples.
- Researching and experimenting with sustainable dyeing techniques to enhance colorfastness and vibrancy.
- Cultivating and harvesting plants used for natural dyeing, ensuring optimal conditions for high-quality botanical yields.
- Documenting dye recipes, techniques, and outcomes to build a comprehensive resource library for future projects.
- Conducting compatibility tests to determine the best dyeing methods for different natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool.
- Maintaining detailed records of dye garden maintenance, including planting schedules, harvest cycles, yield quantities, colorfastness and vibrancy.
Experience gained: scientific research, product testing, increased ecological awareness.
Media and Content Developer
Mimi Prober
March 2023 – September 2024
- Researched and created a successful application resulting in Mimi Prober’s acceptance into the United Nations’ prestigious Fashion and Lifestyle Network.
- Worked with designer of handcrafted heirlooms to communicate brand identity through the curation of images and text.
- Assisted in the creation of marketing materials, including social media posts, and website content.
Experience gained: honed written communications skills, developed awareness of the importance of brand identity.
Designer
Cornell Fashion Collective
September 2021 – Present
- Designed for the Spring 2022 and Spring 2023 and Spring 20025 Annual Cornell Fashion Collective runway shows.
- Designed, developed, and produced complete fashion ensembles; the last year culminating in a six piece collection.
Secretary
Cornell Fashion Collective
September – December 2023
- Oversaw communications and maintained organizational resources.
Studio Intern
Bode
June – August 2023
- Restored antique textiles and finished garments for the Bode Collection, One-of-a-Kind, and Bode Fine Tailoring.
- Assisted with photoshoots and studio organization and ran errands in the Manhattan garment district.
Teaching Assistant
Fashion, Art, and Design Thinking
College of Human Ecology, Cornell University
September 2022 – December 2022
- Graded papers and wrote exam questions.
- Assisted students with course materials during office hours, and photographed artifacts discussed in class.
Teaching Assistant
Wool: Animal Fiber Production and Processing
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
March 2023 – May 2023
- Assisted with course content and graded exams.
Stitcher
Jill Andrews Gowns (Baltimore, Maryland)
2017 – August 2022
- Acquired couture dressmaking and finishing techniques working on bespoke garments.
Scooper
The Charmery (Baltimore, Maryland)
April 2021–August 2021 (Intermittently)
- Collaborated with co-workers on small business operations (e.g. customer service, money handling, ice cream scooping, cleaning)