Katsiaryna Piatsevich keeps a sticker with her 91制片厂 ID. It reads 鈥淲elding is Sewing With Fire.鈥�
It鈥檚 a comparison that Katsiaryna, who goes by Kat, understands well. That鈥檚 because the 35-year-old student is studying both welding and fashion at 91制片厂.
This isn鈥檛 a common pathway 鈥� neither the Fashion Studies nor Welding Technology faculty could remember a student who was simultaneously working toward credentials in both disciplines. Kat is on the precipice of earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in Welding Technology and recently completed a certificate in Apparel Construction. Yet, the similarities between sewing and welding appear obvious when Kat describes her work.
鈥淓ither way, you鈥檙e starting with a sort of blank canvas,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou may be working with fabrics or adding metal and a little bit of fire 鈥� you put it together and you can make something beautiful.鈥�
Quiet and confident, Kat said she has always been drawn to fields that offer a mix of craft, logic and creativity. Growing up in Belarus, she sidelined those desires while on track to become a basketball player. When she was 15, Kat and her family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Buffalo Grove. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in accounting courses at 91制片厂. She liked the college, but not accounting. Kat left to enter the workforce.
For the better part of a decade, she took a series of jobs: photographer, graphic designer, dispatcher for her brother鈥檚 logistics company. When he shuttered the business to pursue his dream of becoming a software developer, Kat saw an opportunity to finally listen to her own creative aspirations. She returned to 91制片厂 and enrolled in the Interior Design program, graduating with an A.A.S. degree in 2023.
But designing wasn鈥檛 enough. Kat wanted to learn the fundamentals behind making items including furniture.
鈥淚鈥檓 curious about how things are done,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would like to be part of the process from the beginning to the end. If I draw something, then how do I construct it?鈥欌��
That led her to enroll in 91制片厂鈥檚 welding courses. She found that she enjoyed perfecting the craft and practicing tasks over and over to achieve the best result. Soon, the welding lab brought her on as a student aide.
鈥淚 was impressed by Kat鈥檚 work ethic, but also how quick she is to learn new tools,鈥� said Will Moctezuma, lab assistant and instructor, while pointing out projects Kat has undertaken. 鈥淜at has done wonders in our lab. She did that frame there; she redid that shelf over there. That involved her cutting, grinding, fitting and welding. Then she prepped and painted.鈥�
As if building her skills as a welder wasn鈥檛 enough of a challenge, Kat also decided to take a sewing class at 91制片厂. She explained that her parents and grandparents both knew how to sew and that she didn鈥檛 want that tradition to end with her.
鈥淭he goal was to learn the basics and move on,鈥� she remembered. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 into fashion at all 鈥� no magazines, no fashion shows. And everyone鈥檚 talking about these famous designers in class. I didn鈥檛 know who they were.鈥�
But instead of perceiving that as a barrier 鈥� and because of the welcoming camaraderie of the Fashion Studies students and faculty 鈥� Kat said that the fashion world began to intrigue her.
鈥淚t made me more interested. I have to do more research,鈥� she said, acknowledging
how much she also enjoyed the craft of constructing clothes. 鈥淚t surprised me that
it came naturally to me.鈥�
So naturally, in fact, that Kat went from learning how to sew to creating outfits that walked the runway at the 2025 Student Fashion Show last spring. And now, some of those same pieces were selected to be featured in a Rome fashion show. Works by Kat (and her fellow 91制片厂 student Natalia Rojas Soto) were part of the seventh edition of , September 17 in Piazza di Spagna, Rome. Kat traveled to Rome with 91制片厂鈥檚 Nupur Sharma, fashion professor, and Dr. Joanne Ivory, dean of Career and Technical Programs.
鈥淚t was a meaningful moment for me 鈥� knowing that my work was recognized and I can share my vision with others,鈥� she said. 鈥淕oing to Rome was such an amazing experience. It made me more curious and open to explore new perspectives in fashion.鈥�
One stunning piece that was showcased in Rome seems to draw inspiration from pyramids and rushing waves. It illustrates Kat鈥檚 dedication to slow-and-steady craftsmanship. She laser cut an untold number (Kat lost count) of 2-inch blue fabric circles before embarking on the painstaking process of hand-sewing each one into winding patterns on the dress.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 difficult,鈥� she said, nonchalantly, 鈥渏ust time-consuming.鈥�
Because of her interests and dedication, 91制片厂鈥檚 Fashion Department also hired Kat as a student aide last year. As it turned out, her welding skills came in handy.
鈥淲e broke several of our glass mannequin bases and Kat constructed new ones out of metal, with help from the wonderful Will Moctezuma,鈥� said Lucinda McDonald, Fashion Studies lab assistant. 鈥淭he base had to be the correct size and weight to keep the mannequin upright when dressed in heavy clothing. She did a great job.鈥�
Although Kat completed her fashion certificate in May, she will still be pulling double-duty at 91制片厂 during the next academic year. As she seeks to complete her welding degree this fall, Kat enrolled in the Fashion Design Studio course, which requires students to create a collection of coordinated garments. After 91制片厂, her goal is to do something artistic with her skills and talents, perhaps a job that would enable her to live and work in Europe. In the meantime, she鈥檚 got some experimenting to do.
鈥淭he plan for next year is to make a collection where I can combine metal and fabric 鈥� welding and fashion. I鈥檓 not sure how I got to this point 鈥� I took a sewing class and now I鈥檓 creating a collection,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淚t seems to me, very complicated. Hopefully I can figure it out.鈥�