About Rae

Rae Cumbie has been creating clothing for women and children in her home-based studio for over 20 years. Her custom gowns for weddings and special occasions have earned her a place as one of Baltimore’s most sought-after dressmakers, and the title of Baltimore’s Best Tailor by Baltimore Magazine in 2005.

She also creates custom artful wearables and limited-edition jackets that have been shown at galleries and craft shows including the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Strathmore Hall Juried Member Artists Exhibit, Baltimore’s Artscape summer festival, Creative Craft Council’s 2007 Biannual Exhibition and Bazaart at the American Visionary Arts Museum. Her Little Black Dress entry was named Most Creative in the Threads Magazine/PACC 2007 Little Black Dress Challenge.

Rae is the National President of The Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (formally PACC) and a founding member and past president of the Baltimore Chapter of the organization.

In 2011 she and Caroline Emerson established Tabula Rasa Patterns LLC and the Fit For Art™ pattern line which hopes to present its first pattern in the fall of 2011. Rae serves as the company’s Creative Director.

She has taught numerous classes for the Baltimore Chapter and has led workshops at the 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008 Association of Sewing and Design Professionals National Educational Conferences, the 2001 PACC National Regional Conference, The Creative Strands Conference in 2004, Susan Khalje’s Couture Sewing School, the Greater Baltimore Weavers Guild, Blue Ridge Weavers and Spinners, the Mannings Hand-Weaving Center, the Seminole Sampler Wearable Arts Club, the Bears Paw, The Sassy Sewer Stitch Lounge and the Lehigh Valley Couturier Society. In 2008 Rae was awarded the Susan M. Conant Grant from the Potomac Craftsmen to study Jacket Construction for Weavers and Quilters and presented her findings at their September 2010 meeting.

Rae is a contributor to Threads Magazine and Sew News Magazine.

Rae and her husband Jim, an attorney, have two daughters. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Sociology.