Boowon Kim

PhD Candidate

Graduate Instructor & Teaching Assistant

Apparel Studies | Department of Design Innovation | College of Design

University of Minnesota

 

  • Boowon is a fashion designer and researcher from Seoul, Korea. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Clothing and Textiles from Ewha Women’s University, where she discovered the potential of fiber and textiles while learning the foundation of skilled garment construction. She received a Master of Design in Fashion, Body, and Garment at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago after completing her post-baccalaureate certificate there. While in the program, she explored the limitless potential of design approaches (e.g., modular apparel design) using various fabrication methods. Boowon is now continuing her study for a Doctor of Philosophy in Design at the University of Minnesota. Her research area aims to support apparel design for sustainability by reducing environmental impact during garment production and consumption.

  • (Expected May 2026) Doctor of Philosophy in Design | Dress, History, and Culture track in Apparel Studies at the University of Minnesota

    Master of Design in Fashion, Body, and Garment at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

    Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Fashion, Body, and Garment at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

    Bachelor of Science in Clothing and Textiles (Fiber Arts minor) at Ewha Women’s University

  • Boowon’s core research interest includes sustainable design, creative design, and design education. Sustainable design research embraces multifaceted work (e.g., zero-waste pattern cutting, transformable apparel, modular design) that reduces fabric waste during garment production and consumption. Her creative design research addresses the limitless potential of design methods while employing apparel production technologies and computer-aided design while discovering aesthetic values. Her design education research aims to enhance sustainability by disseminating related design approaches to the future generation.

  • CV available upon request; please use the contact form.

Industry Specific Skillset

Apparel

Garment construction

Designing, patterning, & draping

Sewing

Sewing machines (lockstitch, overlock, cover stitch), & hand-sewing

Drawing

Fashion illustration & flats; analog & digital

Others

Portfolio development & trend analysis

Textiles

Weaving

Hand-weaving loom, hand-weaving digital Jacquard loom, & tapestry

Knitting

Hand-operated knitting machine

Dyeing

Various kinds of dyeing, screen printing, & heat transfer

Others

Various kinds of felting & hand embroidery

CAD Programs

Apparel 2D/3D CAD

  • Gerber Technology (Accumark, Accuscan, Pattern Design, Plotter)

  • Optitex (PDS, 3D Revu)

  • Clo3D

3D CAD

Rhinoceros 3D & Meshmixer

2D CAD

Adobe Creative Suite: Acrobat DC, Illustrator, InDesign, & Photoshop

3D Fabrication

3D printing, laser-cutting, vinyl cutting, & CNC router

Other Software

Data Analysis Software

R, SPSS, & NVivo

MS Office

Excel, PowerPoint, & Word