APRIL BONASERA

It all started when…

April grew up watching her grandmother, Edna, create textile art in her workshop. Edna made everything from dolls to clothes for April and her family. April was also inspired by famous designers and dressmakers of the nineties, especially Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.

April graduated with a degree from The University of Alabama’s Apparel/Textile Design program and began her professional journey as a CAD pattern designer for Summer Classics, a prestigious high-end furniture company that specializes in luxurious outdoor furnishings. From that point onward, fate serendipitously introduced her to the captivating world of costume design, where she found a strong, supportive theatre family in Iowa that would nurture her creative talents. Her initial love for costumes gradually transformed into a flourishing career focused on the intricate design, building, and altering of costumes for both stage and screen. Throughout her career, April has collaborated with a variety of artistic disciplines, including theatre, opera, film, television, and live events, including musical acts of all kinds. She has had the opportunity to build stunning costumes for award-winning designers and celebrated directors, such as the legendary Francis Ford Coppola and the acclaimed Colleen Atwood. In 2023, amid the writers' strikes, she made the decision to return to her roots in Birmingham, where she established her full-service studio, Dress Dye Magic, to continue her passion for costume design and textile artistry.

The mission of Dress Dye Magic is to preserve and/or re imagine textiles in a sustainable and ethical manner. This involves a thoughtful utilization of the resources we already have and a commitment to quality of craft, from someone with over 20 years of knowledge and experience.

All of the goods offered are meticulously sewn using cherished vintage southern linens that have been lovingly passed down from family, as well as treasures sourced locally. The linens are dyed naturally using mindful and slow processes, and with keeping of scientific and historical methods. April uses ethically foraged plant life or from plants grown in her dye garden in Birmingham, Alabama.