Our Team.
Welcome to the Couture Pattern Museum, where passion fuels our creative team. Though small in size, we are mighty and efficient in our pursuit of excellence. Join us on this extraordinary journey as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future.
Cara Austine-Rademaker, Founder & Executive Director
RJ Rademaker, Creative Operations Director, Key Advisor
Mystique Latese, Mentor & Key Advisor
Melissa Dagodag, Fashion Lawyer and Trademark/Copyright Attorney
Povilas Zaleskis, Digital Fashion Designer & Creator, Clo3D Sponsor
Creative Visions Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) that supports creative activists using the arts and media to ignite social change. Assists with fundraising and grants as our California fiscal sponsor.
American Alliance of Museums, a prestigious network dedicated to championing museums and nurturing excellence across the museum field.
Cara Austine
Founder & Executive Director
Cara Austine-Rademaker, founder of the Couture Pattern Museum, combines her expertise, passion, and creativity to establish a unique institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of haute couture sewing patterns. Over two decades, Cara has dedicated herself to saving and preserving discarded sewing patterns, with the long-term vision of establishing the Couture Pattern Museum. As the head seamstress, she oversees dress reconstructions and museum exhibitions, including "Paris Night Looks," "Coronation Couture," and the "100th Birthday Tribute to James Galanos."
Beginning her career as a business management officer in international trade finance in Beverly Hills, Cara then became the youngest officer and AVP at City National Bank and closed the largest syndicated deal in the bank's history. She also led the Young Entrepreneurs Council for the Century City Chamber of Commerce. Cara’s volunteer work with USC Dental Mobile Clinic, UCLA, and Venice Family Clinics sparked her interest in healthcare, leading her to enroll at USD nursing school and the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, transitioning her career from finance to working at a heart hospital. During this time, on her days off, she began sewing garments for patients and nursing home residents, deepening her passion for creating and sewing custom clothing.
Cara has been fortunate to receive ongoing guidance from two highly respected mentors: a renowned haute couture designer recognized with major museum exhibitions across America, and a haute couture professional who worked at Christian Dior under John Galliano. Their mentorship has significantly shaped her development, enhancing her potential as an instructor and director at the museum. Outside the museum, she enjoys reading literary classics, engaging with unconventional thinkers, honing her culinary skills, and advocating against human trafficking and abuse.
Through her leadership, the Couture Pattern Museum aims to inspire and enlighten patrons by celebrating the untold narratives of fashion history.
RJ Rademaker
Creative Operations Director & Key Advisor
RJ Rademaker, an instrumental advisor and creative director at the Couture Pattern Museum, brings a wealth of experience and a lifelong dedication to the arts. With a background spanning finance, law, and non-profit work, RJ's multifaceted expertise contributes significantly to the museum's vision and success.
Throughout his life, RJ has been deeply engaged in creative endeavors, notably as a songwriter and performer in various artistic disciplines. This extensive experience allows him to bring a unique perspective and artistic sensibility to his role at the museum. In addition to his creative pursuits, RJ has a strong foundation in finance and law, which lends valuable insights to the strategic and operational aspects of the Couture Pattern Museum.
Prior to his involvement with the museum, he served as the executive director of a national non-profit organization, where he honed his leadership skills and deepened his commitment to supporting worthy causes.
Outside of his professional endeavors, RJ enjoys spending his spare time reading and immersing himself in a lifelong study of many facets of the visual arts.
RJ Rademaker's diverse background, coupled with his passion for the arts and commitment to making a positive impact, make him an invaluable asset to the Couture Pattern Museum. His instrumental role as an advisor and creative director propels the museum's mission forward, ensuring the preservation and celebration of couture sewing patterns for generations to come.
Melissa Dagodag
Fashion Lawyer and Trademark/Copyright Attorney Contracted Legal Counsel for Couture Pattern Museum
Melissa Dagadag is a distinguished fashion lawyer and seasoned attorney recognized for her expertise in trademark and copyright law. With a strong academic background, Melissa holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in English from Stanford University, as well as a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from UCLA School of Law. Her journey in the legal field began after experiencing the frustration of having her own design ideas stolen, inspiring her to protect the creative works of others.
With diverse professional experiences, Melissa's career has been shaped by her passion for the fashion and entertainment industries. She began her legal career at Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips, LLP, a top California law firm specializing in entertainment and music law. Melissa further enriched her expertise by serving as an in-house attorney handling contracts and business affairs at BCBG, a major fashion company, and Palan Music, an international music publishing company.
As contracted legal counsel for Couture Pattern Museum, Melissa Dagadag brings her comprehensive legal expertise and business experience to safeguard the museum's intellectual property and ensure legal compliance. Her practical legal know-how, effective communication skills, and approachable demeanor distinguish her as a trusted advisor.
With Melissa Dagadag as part of the Couture Pattern Museum team, the organization benefits from her strategic guidance and commitment to supporting creative individuals and businesses.
Mystique Latese
Mentor & Key Advisor
Mystique Latese, serves as a key advisor at the Couture Pattern Museum. Mystique brings an extensive repertoire of skills and experience, pivotal in driving the organization's growth, innovation, and diversity. With a proven track record in guiding startups to success, her visionary leadership is integral to pushing the museum's forward-thinking initiatives.
As the founder of WOC Owned, Mystique has manifested her profound commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship, creating a thriving platform dedicated to bolstering Black and Brown women entrepreneurs. Her tenure as a coveted event planner in Chicago has further polished her proficiency in project management, negotiation, and strategic planning, enhancing her contribution to the museum's endeavors.
Mystique's prowess extends to the digital sphere where her accomplishments include launching numerous online communities and digital apps, effectively bridging the gap between traditional and digital interfaces. Among these accomplishments is the successful introduction of highly rated online classes.
Mystique Latese's in-depth insights, unwavering commitment, and hands-on approach have been pivotal in carving the Couture Pattern Museum's forward trajectory. Her continued alliance with our organization not only adds credibility but also instills a deep-rooted sense of purpose to our mission. This relationship bolsters our commitment to showcasing the complexity of historical couture patterns while fostering a diverse, inclusive community of learners and innovators.
Povilas Zaleskis
Digital Fashion Designer & Creator, Clo3D Sponsor
Povilas Zaleskis is a Luxembourg-based Digital Fashion Designer, Creator, and Clo3D Sponsor at the Couture Pattern Museum. With a foundation in traditional bespoke tailoring, he excels in blending classic design with digital techniques, using Clo3D software to craft stunning digital renditions of couture.
Inspired by the revolutionary techniques of Madeleine Vionnet and driven by a profound respect for the meticulous detail characteristic of haute couture, Povilas's career took a transformative turn during the pandemic. This period of exploration and innovation led him to Clo3D, a tool that has become indispensable in the fashion industry for its ability to produce highly detailed and realistic garment designs without the physical constraints of traditional fabrication methods.
His digital reconstructions, particularly those from the James Galanos collection displayed during the 100th Birthday Tribute Exhibition for James Galanos in Santa Barbara, highlighted the complexity, beauty, and ingenuity of design processes, bridging historical fashion heritage with contemporary digital craftsmanship.
Beyond his design contributions, Povilas supports the museum's mission as a Clo3D sponsor, using his talent by assisting the Couture Pattern Museum to merge fashion's rich history with its digital future. Explore Povilas's innovative designs and historical digital projects at www.biascutwoman.studio and on Instagram @biascutwoman.
Creative Visions Foundation
California Fiscal Sponsor, a non-profit 501(c)(3)
Couture Pattern Museum (CPM) is privileged to be a sponsored project of the Creative Visions Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) that supports creative activists, those that use the arts and media to ignite social change. As our local California fiscal sponsor, Creative Visions' mission aligns seamlessly with our own.
Our partnership with Creative Visions is built on shared values of creativity, inclusivity, and social change. Their support extends beyond fiscal sponsorship, offering critical fundraising and grant assistance. This enables CPM to expand its donor base and generate the necessary financial support for our preservation and educational initiatives. We are honored to be part of the Creative Visions family and look forward to continuing our joint endeavor to reshape the fashion and museum landscape.