About the Designers
Carla Bellisio
Carla Bellisio has fashion and craftsmanship in her blood. She comes from a long tradition of designers and textile craftspeople, beginning with her great-grandfather Giovanni DeSanto, who was an expert glover in Italy. After immigrating to New York, Giovanni’s daughters, Julia and Olympia, became milliners and provided fashions to Broadway theatergoers in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Even Carla’s father was a delivery boy for the trim manufacturers in New York City’s garment district. With a family of painters, illustrators, dress designers and seamstresses, it is no surprise that this tradition of artistry and skilled craft has instilled a love of fashion and history in Carla.
Carla graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama. While there, she was awarded the Bess Kimberly Award for achievement in costume design. After moving to New York City, Carla designed costumes for theater companies throughout the city, and created garments for operas, ballets and Broadway shows. Although thrilled at the chance to design, Carla was troubled by the amount of waste created in theater. With each show she attempted to decrease her environmental footprint, but she knew if she wanted to make a real difference she would need to start her own venture with creative control over every aspect. Fermata Designs allows Carla to use the skills she learned in theater and sewing to create unique garments for today’s unique bride while following a socially and environmentally conscious mission.
Jocelyn Melechinsky
Jocelyn started making wedding dresses seven years ago while a design assistant at the costume shop at the Juilliard School. She noticed that clients would seek her out because they were looking for something out of the ordinary: an alternative-style dress, simple classic shapes or an assortment of color. In addition to her skill as a designer, Jocelyn has always had an awe of nature. She has spent countless hours photographing giant mushrooms, sea slugs, flowers, and gardens for texture inspiration and her own enjoyment. From finding garter snakes and rescuing fallen hatchlings when she was a kid, to swimming with humpback whales in the South Pacific as an adult, her personal interest in the world around her has led her to be passionate about environmental and social responsibility. Fermata Designs is a way to combine her craft with her ideals.
After attending the North Carolina School of the Arts, Jocelyn obtained her Bachelor of Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design. She has designed, constructed, and dyed costumes for many dance and theater productions across the city. In addition she holds a certificate of Permaculture Design, a method of living design that mimics the relationships found in natural ecologies, and continues to pursue her education at the Fashion Institute of Technology as well as through ecology centers throughout the city. When she is not traveling or constructing garments she spends her time doting on her collection of orchids and rescuing and refurbishing furniture from the side of the road.