Careers in Textiles Symposium
What is a Career in Textiles? HGA’s one-day online symposium spotlights leading professionals and industry trendsetters, shares their experiences, and provides insights on the diverse and changing landscape of textiles and fiber art. The symposium is open to all but is geared toward young professionals, recent graduates, and students. The symposium is presented virtually, and all sessions are recorded and available for registered attendees to view at their convenience for up to 90 days following the presentation. Students holding an active HGA student membership or showing proof of enrollment will receive complimentary admission.
Save the Date: March 20, 2026
Meet our Careers In Textiles Presenters
Lydia Blackmore
Decorative Arts Curator, Historic New Orleans Collection
Lydia Blackmore is the Decorative Arts Curator at The Historic New Orleans Collection. She earned an MA and a certificate in museum studies from the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture at the University of Delaware and holds a degree in history from the College of William and Mary. In her role, Blackmore oversees the research, acquisition, and preservation of decorative arts, fine art, material culture, and design collections. She supervises the Decorative Arts of the Gulf South project and coordinates preservation initiatives at the historic 533 Royal Street campus. During her eleven years at HNOC, Blackmore has curated or co-curated numerous exhibitions, including Making Mardi Gras (2022), A Vanishing Bounty (2024), and Unknown Sitters (2024). Beyond her work at HNOC, she serves on the board of trustees of the Historic BK House & Gardens.
Tracee Dundas
Founder and Executive Producer of New Orleans Fashion Week
Tracee Dundas has been a fashion pioneer since earning her degree in fashion and apparel design from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. She founded ABOUTFACES Model & Talent Management, one of the region’s most sought-after agencies, and is the Founder, Producer, and Creative Director of New Orleans Fashion Week (NOFW), a premier platform for the Gulf Coast fashion and beauty industry. Under her leadership, NOFW has launched designers to national platforms such as Project Runway and advanced models to New York, Miami, and Paris Fashion Weeks, establishing it as the most comprehensive fashion event in the South. Beyond NOFW, Dundas is a fashion correspondent and contributing editor who collaborates with brands including Essence Magazine, Nike, and Saks. She most recently coordinated the NFL Wives Super Bowl LIX Fashion Show in New Orleans and serves as Programs Director for Dress for Success New Orleans, empowering women through fashion.
Sarah Resnick
Founder of Gist Yarn and Zollie
Sarah Resnick started her career as a community organizer by day and a weaver in all her spare time. She leaped into a career in textiles in 2017, when she launched Gist Yarn out of a 200-square-foot studio. Since then, Gist Yarn has grown into a thriving small business producing natural fiber weaving yarn and publishing patterns and content to inspire a growing community of multi-shaft, rigid heddle, tapestry, and rug weavers.
Jacob Reptile
Executive Director, Aquarium Gallery and Studios
Jacob Reptile, a BFA graduate in Fiber Art from the Kansas City Art Institute, returned to New Orleans with a passion for textile, wearable, and green art. In an effort to build a strong artist community, he founded Aquarium Gallery and Studios. When a fire nearly destroyed the space in 2016, Reptile—undeterred and supported by his community—rebuilt it into the thriving creative ecosystem it is today. Inspired by nature, Reptile’s work aims to evoke joy while drawing attention to environmental issues. Using recycled materials and fabrics, he sparks dialogue that blends creativity with advocacy. His journey highlights the transformative power of art and community, inspiring others to embrace creativity and work toward a more sustainable future.
Daryl Lancaster
Fiber Artist and Writer
Daryl Lancaster is a handweaver and fiber artist known for her award-winning handwoven fabrics and garments. She has been constructing garments for more than half a century and has presented lectures and workshops for guilds, conferences, and craft centers across the United States. A former Features Editor for Handwoven magazine, Lancaster has written more than 100 articles and pieces of digital content and regularly contributes to a variety of weaving and sewing publications. She also hosts the YouTube channel, The Weaver Sews, where she shares her extensive experience sewing handwoven garments, and maintains a blog at www.weaversew.com/wordblog.