About Xochil - The Chicago Pattern Maker

Xochil Herrera Scheer provides professional product development, pattern making and fashion design services to brand clients and businesses throughout the US, and is based in the Chicago area.

Xochil made Chicago her home in 2003, moving from her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. She has a BFA in Fashion Design from The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, and graduate degree in entrepreneurship from DeVry University. Xochil is a detail oriented, results driven task master, and enjoys the analytic side of fashion, making products come to life through strategic sourcing and technical details.

Xochil has worked with numerous brands and designers to bring their concepts from sketch to reality. She has a strong skill set in technical design, pattern making, material sourcing and prototype development with production in mind. She has a keen understanding of the manufacturing process through working with various factories, training and using industrial equipment, and being closely involved with clients throughout product development. Her background in tailoring and being a lifelong sewer has helped shape her skills in garment fit and construction techniques.

Specializing in pattern making for both knit and woven materials, she enjoys working in the contemporary "ready-to-wear" market (and loves a good blazer), as well as more complex technical pieces including outerwear and workwear. She has extensive experience in athletic activewear and performance apparel for men and women, including swimwear and undergarments. Xochil enjoys learning about innovative materials and applying them to new designs.

Xochil is currently serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Apparel Industry Board Inc. (AIBI), and is proud to serve as Board Member for the SEAMS Association, where she writes the bi-monthly column, "The X-Files". She loves to be involved in the local and domestic fashion and manufacturing community through experiences, events and professional development. She is very passionate about Made in USA and ethically sourced products and manufacturing.

Xochil's work and industry contributions have been featured in: E-Textile Communications, Just Style, Textile World, Chicago SPLASH, BRAVA Magazine, Chicago Sun Times, MODA Fashion Gazette, New City Chicago. Xochil was also included in a segment on the ABC 7 Chicago show, 190 North. She was honored to be named a Rising Star by SPESA in 2021; and was presented with the Sarah Friedman "Person of the Year" award by SEAMS in 2024.

Highlights

CAD Pattern Maker

Professional digital pattern making using Tukatech pattern software, Xochil Inc. is also a TUKACenter. Files are DXF Compatible, and can be exported/printed as needed.

Active in the Fashion Community

Serves on the Board of Directors (2024-present), member since 2019, for SEAMS Association, the voice of the US sewn products industry, leading the Made in America movement. Featured author for bi-monthly newsletter and blog series, "The X-Files."

Member of Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) since 2024, representing advanced, speciality and technical textiles from fiber and fabric to end products.

Serves on the Executive Board as Secretary (2021-present) for the Apparel Industry Board Inc. (AIBI). Board Member since 2019; member since 2007. Advancing industry education and resources for fashion professionals in Illinois.

Former Regional Director (2017-2018) and Board Member (2014-2016) for The Fashion Group International of Chicago (FGI), joined 2007. Planned event programming for fashion industry professionals. Lead social and digital communications.

Supporter, Friend, and Unofficial President of the SPESA Fan Club.

Public Speaker + Educator

Regularly attends and participates in industry trade shows and conferences as a speaker, moderator, and educational advisor. Partner with Messe Frankfurt shows since 2022 for Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North America.

Leads presentations and workshops on topics including pattern making, technical design, industrial sewing and marketing for the textile industry.

Additional speaker appearances: SEAMS Association conferences, The Fabric Shows, AIBI, FGI, Threaded Co., Creative Chicago Expo, Chicago Textile Expo, as well as numerous schools and small groups. Xochil is an experienced podcast guest and loves to talk shop on any industry topic.

Adjunct Professor of Instruction at Columbia College Chicago in the Fashion Studies Department (since 2020). Co-teaches the senior capstone experience course. Created curriculum and led Introduction to Industrial Sewing workshops, teaching students with zero sewing experience to feel comfortable and confident with sewing and instrustial equipment, increasing the success rate of students in Pattern and Construction I by over 30%.

On-Set Tailor

Tailors looks on-set for photo/video shoots for magazines including Men's Health, InStyle, and Ebony; and companies including Kohl's, Land's End, Trunk Club, Nike, Schawk! and others. Represented by Distinct Artists. Trusted for celebrity, editorial, and e-commerce alike.

Certificate: Union Special

Completed Union Special class to learn sewing machine maintenance, basic mechanics and trouble shooting for a variety of machines including: Single Needle Lockstitch, Overlock, Coverstitch, Flatseam ("Flatlock"), Bar Tack

Meet the Team

Melissa Petersen

Melissa Petersen is a Design Assistant at the Chicago Pattern Maker. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and a minor in Business.

Her senior thesis collection focused on textile prints and embellishment, which helped her land a role working as a designer for a textile and garment components company after graduation. While in this position, she designed and coordinated the company's bi-annual print collections and was involved with all steps of the process, from initial ideas and designs, all the way to production and distribution. She also was added as a member of the marketing team, and managed the company website and digital showroom, social media, and the design and creation of marketing materials for the company's products. She worked closely with the global sales team to make sure that they were well-equipped with any and all samples and materials that they needed.

Melissa has also previously worked in various positions as a seamstress, as well as interned for several Chicago-based clothing designers. She has been sewing since she was 14 years old, and her experience with and knowledge of garment construction greatly helps her in her current position as design assistant working on tech packs and creating technical flats. She is enthusiastic to now work for TCPM and is glad to be contributing her talents and skills to the company.

Violet Velazquez

Violet Velazquez is a Designer Assistant at the Chicago Pattern Maker. She attended Columbia College Chicago, where she graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Fashion Design and a minor in business. Violet’s love for fashion is rooted in her belief that clothing can elevate and transform a person’s sense of self. She views fashion as an art form that we get to create our lives in and uses this perspective as the foundation for her work.

Before venturing into fashion design, Violet built valuable experience as a Retail Manager for Dr. Martens. In this position she developed a keen understanding of retail operations, customer service, and visual merchandising. Her ability to manage inventory, lead a team, and create an engaging shopping experience significantly contributed to the store’s success. This role enhanced her understanding of consumer behavior and the importance of brand identity, skills that she seamlessly integrated into her design work.

In addition to her experience in retail management, Violet has a background as a Costume Designer. Her ability to merge creativity with functionality has allowed her to design unique costumes for touring musicians, ensuring that each piece not only enhances the performers' stage presence but also aligns with the overall narrative of their show. Violet’s collaborations also extend to theater and film, where she has worked closely with directors, production teams, and actors to develop costumes that are integral to character development and storytelling, further highlighting her versatility and creativity in the fashion industry.

About Xochil Herrera Scheer: The Chicago Pattern Maker