About Debra Dianne
Debra Dianne (Debbie) Utberg's professional sewing career began in 1977 when she was asked to sew a wedding gown and discovered the value of her sewing skills to others. For many years, her business was an intermittent, part-time entity.
In 1990, after her children were a little older, she began marketing her business, “Utberg Custom Clothiers”, more extensively. During this period, her involvement with the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers increased as did her ongoing professional education.
In 2005, Debbie moved her business out of her home and into a commercial location on the eastside of the Willamette River, close to downtown Portland, Oregon. There she had a couture studio to work and meet with clients. Soon after, she added additonal staff and renamed her business, "Debra Dianne - Fine Dressmaking and Bridal Couture." Since then, she has relocated her business to historic downtown Gresham. This location offers maximum work/life balance and space for teaching the fine art of custom sewing.
Debra has been actively involved the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, formerly known as the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers (PACC) for many years. She has served as:
- Past President of PACC Oregon Chapter (three two year terms)
- Past Vice-Chair of Chapter Relations of PACC National Board
- Past Parliamentarian of PACC National Board
Believing in ongoing education in her field of expertise, she has attended many classes including the following:
- Koos Van Den Akker Collage Class: Portland, OR
- Master Class: Italian Soft Tailoring, Secaucus, NJ
- Pamela Ptak Class: Draping, Portland, OR
- Couture Sewing School: Chanel Style Jacket Class, Vista, CA
- Couture Sewing School: Level One, Haverville, MA
- Couture Sewing School: Level Two, Vista, CA
- Kenneth King Class: French Pattern Making Class, Las Vegas, NV
- Master Class: Pattern Drafting, Newark, NJ
- Patti Palmer Class: Fitting Commercial Patterns, Portland, OR
- Paula Marneau Class: Bag Making, Portland, OR
- Peggy Corigan Class: Tailoring, Portland, OR
She has also attended the following PACC National Conferences, often in a leadership role:
- 2011: Portland, OR
- 2010: Secaucus, NJ
- 2007: Denver, CO
- 2006: San Francisco, CA
- 2005: Baltimore, MD
- 2004: Savannah, GA
- 2003: Las Vegas, NV
- 2002: Chicago, IL
- 2001: Los Angeles, CA
- 2000: St. Louis, MO
- 1999: Newark, NJ
- 1998: Portland, OR
- 1997: Tulsa, OK