Self-designed, self-marketed, self-sewn

One night over winter break, senior Vanessa Brewster was unable to sleep. But rather than visions of sugarplums, what danced in Brewster's head were visions of another sort: fashions, which she sketched furiously, barely noticing as the winter night became a winter morning.

The inspiration that struck Brewster that night will be fully realized tomorrow in the campus center, when Brewster sells her spring clothing line under the name "Osorio."

Brewster is grateful to her parents for their support of her ventures: she named her spring collection "Osorio" after her mother's maternal maiden name.

Sewing was so much a part of Brewster's life that she can't remember not knowing how to sew, and she has always been passionate about clothing. "It's not separate from the rest of my life; it's so integrated," she said. "It's always been there."

Brewster picked up the passion for sewing from her mother, a seamstress who ran her own sewing business when Brewster was growing up on Whidbey, a small island in Washington's Puget Sound.

In middle school, Brewster was selling her creations to her classmates. She also made prom dresses, including her own.

"It was great, because I never had to worry about people having the same dress as me!" Brewster said.

Anyone who buys an "Osorio" piece of clothing will be able to avoid this problem, as every piece of Brewster's clothing is unique. "There's only one of the same color and size, so there's no two [pieces] that are the same," Brewster said.

Brewster, who buys her fabrics at a store in Woburn, describes the items in "Osorio" as "tried-and-true" -- virtually all of the designs are ones she has made for herself, worn, and received requests for. Brewster's personal favorite pieces are the jean skirts. Their customization, she said, lends them a great deal of character:

"They're made out of 100 percent recycled denim from all different places -- Banana Republic, J.Crew, Old Navy -- so there's a huge variety," she said.

Brewster brought her sewing machine cross-country with her to Tufts. "I got stopped about six times because of my sewing machine at the airport, [security personnel] kept opening it up!"

But Brewster says she would be even more inconvenienced by life without it. While studying abroad in Spain during her junior year, Brewster did not have access to a sewing machine. "I missed it," she said. "It was hard."

Brewster's travels abroad have broadened her outlook on fashion. One trend she has noticed is that European women place a great deal of importance on having a put-together, elegant style. This emphasis is influencing the American fashion climate. For example, Brewster cites the popularity of Juicy Couture's velour sweatsuits. "Even for just working out, women want a more tailored look than baggy sweats," she said. "We grew up with 'grunge,' but now things are leaning more towards 'glam.'"

Brewster also predicts the proliferation of custom mass production, enabling people "to have more tailored clothes." Brewster sees evidence of the "increasing demand for custom-made things" reflected in the customization options currently offered by such big-name manufacturers as Levi's and Brooks Brothers.

While at Tufts, Brewster has honed her craft through working with the Tufts Drama Department Workshop. Carson Eddy, resident costume designer at Tufts in 1999 -- 2000, encouraged Brewster in her costuming pursuits. Eddy's successor, Professor Virginia Johnson, has also served as a mentor, along with Workshop supervisor Susannah Brown.

"[Johnson] is trying to get together a class for next year that teaches sewing," Brewster said, encouraging interested students to pursue that experience as well as to get involved in costuming for Torn Ticket II and 3P's plays. Brewster hopes that students will take advantage of these opportunities: "[Sewing] was especially common forty or fifty years ago," she said, "but now it's a rarity."

Brewster also hopes that her "Osorio" sale will inspire students to pursue their passions, be they in the fashion arena or elsewhere. "People are so talented here [at Tufts]," she said. "To see more young entrepreneurs starting off would be great."

So what does Brewster think of Tufts' color combination?

"It works!" Brewster said, laughing. "And as far as college colors go, it's refreshing."

On the web: www.eecs.tufts.edu/~ddean/osorio/osorio.html.