Education
- 1985-89 BFA with honors, Fashion Design
Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design, Los Angeles, CA
Bio/Affiliation
Sumi Lee is a distinguished contemporary fashion designer and stitch artist, recognized for her unwavering commitment to the value of handcraft. She regards handwork as one of the most modest yet noble forms of artistic endeavor—particularly in an era characterized by overproduction—due to the time, care, and intentionality it requires.
Her design practice is centered on innovative techniques such as non-traditional abstract draping, upcycled garment construction, stitch-based artistry, and indigo dyeing. Through these methods, she consistently produces unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that blur the boundaries between fashion and art.
In addition to her work in garment design, Sumi actively explores experimental approaches to fashion illustration. She employs traditional materials such as Sumie-ink, Asian brushes, and broken chopsticks on rice paper to investigate the spontaneity and irreversibility of line—qualities that stand in stark contrast to the editable nature of digital drawing.
Ms. Lee is also a dedicated educator with nearly three decades of teaching experience at Otis College of Art and Design. Her contributions to fashion education include the publication of Instructive Flats for Fashion Designers, a textbook designed to support students in developing technical proficiency in fashion illustration.
Awards and Honors
- 2019 Faculty Development Grant for Bespoke Cloth Art doll workshop In Australia, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
- 2016 Faculty Development Grant for Stitch/Textile Art workshop In France, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
- 2014 Faculty Development Grant for Indigo Textile workshop In Japan, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
- 2012 Faculty Development Grant for Royal Academy Fashion Show in Belgium, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
- 2008 Faculty development grant for Alabama Chanin, Sustainability Workshop, Florence, Alabama Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
Professional Accomplishments/Exhibitions
- 2025 Participated and assisted "Japanese Textile workshop" for Indigo and Shibori dye in Fujino, Japan, May 2025.
- Solo stitch artwork exhibition at Nagwonjang Gallery in Seoul, Korea. ( July16-28, 2024)
- 2024 Organized and hosted a “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop,” focusing on Shibori stitches and traditional indigo dye (Called “Sumindigo 2024”) for 9 participants, including 5 Otis Fashion graduates and fashion field experts in Fujino, Japan. May 31 to June 11, 2024.
- 2023 Organized and hosted a “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop for Hanten Jacket,” using Shibori dye and traditional jacket making (Called “Sumindigo 2023”) for 10 participants, including 8 Otis Fashion graduates and fashion field experts in Fujino, Japan. May 26 to June 9, 2023.
- 2020 Presentation, “Sumi with Sumi-ink” at Jajak-Jajak Gallery, sponsored by BAF studio, in Paju, Korea, May 2020.
- 2019 Organized and hosted a “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop” for Indigo, Shibori dye (Called “Sumindigo 2019”) for 9 Fashion Alumni and fashion field experts in Fujino, Japan. June 2019.
- 2019 Organized and hosted a “Slow Art Textile workshop” (called “Alpusumi 2019”) for 8 Fashion Alumni in Les Carroz, for 8 Fashion Alumni in France, July 2019.
- 2018 Organized and hosted a “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop” for Indigo, Shibori dye (Called “Sumindigo 2018”) for 9 Fashion Alumni and the fashion field experts in Fujino, Japan, June 2018.
- 2018 Group Exhibition for Otis Alumni in Asia, celebrating 100 years of Otis, at Ara Art Center in Seoul, Korea, 2018.
- 2017 Textile art workshop, “Places, Spaces and Traces” in Les Carroz, France, Aug 2017.
- 2017 Organized and Hosted a “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop” for Indigo, Shibori dye (Called “Sumindigo 2017”) for 9 Fashion Alumni and the fashion field experts in Fujino, Japan, June 2017.
- 2016 Organized and Hosted a “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop” for Indigo, Shibori dye (Called “Sumindigo 2016”) for 10 Fashion Alumni in Fujino, Japan, June 2016.
- 2016 Presentation /Lecture, Japanese Textile, Shibori and Indigo, LA, CA, March 2016.
- 2015 “Japanese Textile/ Indigo workshop” for Indigo, Shibori dye in Fujino, Japan, May 2015.
- 2014 “Studio 6-D” for 2 weeks, leading lecturer and mentor, sponsored by Orange Cube Art in Seoul, Korea, July 2014.
- 2014 “Fashion Presentation” lecturer, sponsored by Hong-Sook Art Academy in Chang Won, Korea, July 2014.
- 2013 “Fashion Design and Drawing Workshop” for 5 days, lead the workshop sponsored by Orange Cube Art in Seoul, Korea.
Publications
- 2015 Instructive Flats for Fashion Designers, Fashion tutorial textbook, Kyohakyongusa
Clients/Employment History
Teaching Experience:
- 2004- Present Full-time Faculty, Full Professor in Fashion Design Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
- Lead faculty for Intro to Design, Jr. & Sr. Design classes 1997-2003
- Part-time Faculty, Fashion Design and Model Drawing, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA
Professional Experience:
- 1996-97 Design director, Premium Denim Cult Jean, Los Angeles, CA
- 1991-95 Head Designer, Contemporary Sportswear, Mynneline by Esquire, Seoul, Korea
- 1989-90 Assistant Designer, Contemporary Sportswear, Glenn Williams, Los Angeles, CA
